Exploring the interaction between mental well-being and time perception.

Our research posits that variations in mental health affect time perception. Elevated depression scores are typically associated with overestimations of time (Gil & Droit-Volet, 2011), while increased anxiety scores have been linked to underestimations (Bar-Haim et al., 2010). However, these effects are not consistent across studies, indicating that other factors may modulate these relationships. Here, we set out to investigate three promising candidates. First, we considered the role of chronic stress and the inability to relax. The physiological response to stress via the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been implicated in depression and anxiety, and increased stress has been linked to slower time perception (Peirce & Alviña, 2019; Rankin et al., 2019). Second, we looked at awareness of internal bodily signals as a potential influence. Interoceptive abilities shape time perception (Pollatos et al., 2014) and have been associated with better emotional and self-regulation through the ability to recognise and respond to bodily signals (Mehling et al., 2012). Third, we considered poor sleep quality, which can exacerbate the impact of mental health issues on time perception by affecting cognitive function and emotional state.