Time change: Forsa survey shows declining rejection of time change

More daylight, less energy consumption: Since 1980, time has been changed twice a year in Germany. This is the time again next weekend. In Germany in particular, a striking number of people have been upset about this in the past. But now the dissatisfaction is gradually waning.

According to a Forsa survey on behalf of DAK-Health, 71 percent of respondents still demand to abolish the time change. But compared to the previous year, this is five percentage points less and the lowest value since 2016, as the health insurance company announces. The strongest rejection of the time change was therefore 2018 with 80 percent.

In the 18- to 29-year-old age group, the decline in rejection from 66 percent to 50 percent of respondents is strongest. In this age group, with 39 percent, there is also the largest approval for the change of summer and winter time.

29 percent of respondents had problems with the time change, either health or mental health. Women are affected at 36 percent more often than men at 22 percent.

People who are particularly concerned about the time change complained most often about fatigue or fatigue (80 percent). A further 63 percent reported problems falling asleep or concentration problems, 37 percent felt irritable according to their own statements. Around 20 percent also reported depressive moods, which they associated with the time change. For the study, more than a thousand people were surveyed nationwide at the end of September.

In 2018, in an online survey by the European Commission, 84 percent of the participants voted to abolish the time change in the EU. Out of 4.6 million responses, about 3 million came from Germany at the time.

The EU then proposed to end the time changeover. However, a Europe-wide solution is still lacking. For example, the states could not agree on which time should apply: the winter time, which would correspond to the normal time, or the summer time.

According to a recent study, permanent normal time would be healthier because morning light stabilizes the internal clock, sleep and mood. Followers of summertime, on the other hand, appreciate the long summer evenings.

With the time change in autumn, the dark season begins for many people, they feel depressed and driven. Here, psychologist Kari Leibowitz reveals how it is possible to defy the winter blues.