DAILY MOOD VARIABILITY - FORM OF DIURNAL PATTERNS AND DETERMINANTS OFDIURNAL PATTERNS

Mood and affect are often assessed in psychological research without r egard for the potential influence of time of day or other environmenta l factors. This study examined the determinants of daily mood variabil ity. Ninety-four subjects completed a diary every 15 min for 1 day, an d subjects' moods, activities, and locations were assessed. Diurnal cy cles were found for several moods (e.g., happy, tired), activities (e. g., discourse, thinking), and locations (e.g., home, work). Diurnal cy cles in most moods were strongly associated with activities and locati on, yet diurnal cycles of some moods (rushed, sad, and tired) were not dependent on these factors. These findings have implications for mood assessment: Mood assessment performed only at particular times of day , or those relying on point assessment, may be influenced by time of d ay and by the activities and location of the subject.