Irregularity in Daily Activities Predicts Depression via Reduced Perceived Control: A Daily Diary Study

ABSTRACT Objectives Disruptions in social rhythm—referring to irregularities in daily activities such as meals, work, and social interactions—have been associated with increased psychological distress, including depression. While circadian rhythm‐related factors (e.g., sleep quality) have been proposed as key mechanisms underlying this link, emerging evidence points to additional psychological pathways. This study aimed to examine perceived control as a potential psychological mediator between social rhythm irregularity and depression. Methods A 14‐day daily diary study was conducted with 124 participants. We investigated the mediating role of perceived control in the relationship between social rhythm irregularity and depression at both the between‐person and within‐person levels. Results At the between‐person level, lower perceived control significantly mediated the association between greater social rhythm irregularity and higher depressive symptoms, even after controlling for sleep quality as a parallel mediator. At the within‐person level, results from a 1‐1‐1 multilevel mediation model showed that daily perceived control fully mediated the link between daily social rhythm irregularity and end‐of‐day depressive affect. Conclusion These findings underscore the importance of considering psychological mechanisms, such as perceived control, alongside circadian rhythm‐related factors when examining the mental health consequences of irregular daily routines.