RESEARCH IN THE HEADLINES: Dr. Michael Nadorff

MSU psychologist studies impact time change has on sleep, mental health

The shift from daylight-saving time to standard-time and then back is more than just an inconvenience—it’s a public health issue according to Mississippi State University psychologist Michael Nadorff.

As national conversations continue over whether the U.S. should permanently end the twice-yearly clock changes, Nadorff’s research on sleep and mental health offers an important reminder: changing the clocks may be the real problem.

“I want to start with the part almost everyone agrees on: the switching itself is bad for us,” Nadorff said. “When we spring forward, you see a real bump in heart attacks, strokes, car crashes and workplace injuries in the days that follow. So, the single biggest win of going permanent, either way, is that we stop yanking the clock twice a year.”

A professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology, Nadorff studies how sleep affects mental health, with a particular focus on insomnia, nightmares and suicide prevention. His research examines not only why sleep disorders occur, but how evidence-based treatments can improve both sleep and overall psychological well-being.

While many people support permanent daylight-saving time because of longer evening daylight, Nadorff says biology tells a more complicated story.

“The catch is which time we make permanent,” he explained. “Permanent daylight-saving time means darker mornings all year long, and morning light is the most powerful signal our body uses to set its internal clock. Take that away and the clock tends to drift later, which makes it harder to fall asleep at a reasonable hour and harder to get up.”

That research has practical applications beyond the daylight-saving debate.

In 2025, Nadorff and clinical psychologist Courtney Worley published “The Nightmare and Sleep Disorder Toolkit,” a workbook that helps people manage insomnia and chronic nightmares using evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy.

Designed for use independently or alongside a therapist, the guide offers practical strategies for improving sleep habits and reducing recurring nightmares.

For people looking to improve their sleep tonight, Nadorff says the advice is surprisingly simple.

“The most important one is to get bright light early in the day,” he said. “Open the blinds, step outside for a few minutes, or use a light box if mornings are dark where you live.”

Consistency matters just as much.

“Keep a consistent wake time even on weekends, dim the lights and put the screens away in the hour before bed, and watch the timing of caffeine and alcohol,” he said. “If you know a change is coming, you can ease into it by shifting your bedtime about 15 minutes earlier every few days rather than all at once.”

Nadorff’s work extends well beyond helping people get a better night’s sleep. Through MSU’s Sleep, Suicide and Aging Lab, he collaborates with researchers across the U.S. and internationally to better understand how disrupted sleep contributes to suicidal thoughts and behaviors across the lifespan. The findings are helping clinicians develop more effective treatments for people experiencing serious mental illness alongside sleep disorders.

He also serves as a leader in the university’s Alliance Project, which trains students, faculty and staff to recognize the warning signs of suicide, begin supportive conversations and connect people with professional help.

For Nadorff, those efforts share a common goal.

“I would love for sleep to be treated as a real part of mental health care rather than an afterthought,” he said. “And I want the good treatments to reach the people who need them most, including the communities that usually get left out. If the work helps someone finally sleep through the night, or helps a clinician feel confident treating these problems, that is the impact I care about.”

As policymakers continue debating the future of daylight-saving time, Nadorff hopes decisions will be guided by what decades of sleep research have shown.

“The best thing we could do is stop changing the clocks at all,” he said. “If we are choosing between the two, standard-time lines up better with our biology because it protects that morning light, even though permanent daylight-saving time tends to be the more politically popular option. My hope is that the science gets a real seat at the table in that decision.”

Contact Emma Hardy