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Research finds late sleepers report more anxiety too

• A new study found that people who prefer later sleep schedules reported higher levels of loneliness and anxiety.

• Researchers surveyed 442 adults and examined how sleep timing, loneliness, and mental health are connected.

• Feelings of loneliness at night appeared to play an important role in the relationship between later sleep schedules and anxiety.

Whether you're naturally a night owl or simply prefer staying up later, your sleep schedule may be connected to more than just when you feel tired.

New research presented at the SLEEP 2026 annual meeting found that people with an "evening chronotype" those who naturally prefer to go to bed and wake up later reported poorer mental health, higher levels of loneliness, and greater anxiety.

Researchers were particularly interested in a type of loneliness that occurs during nighttime hours, known as nocturnal loneliness. Previous research has suggested that people who stay up later may experience a mismatch between their preferred schedules and the schedules followed by much of society. This can sometimes leave late sleepers feeling more isolated, especially during nighttime hours when fewer people are awake and available for social interaction.

The study explored whether those feelings of loneliness could help explain why later sleep schedules are often linked to mental health challenges.

People with later sleep patterns reported poorer mental health in part because they also experienced greater loneliness, including feelings of loneliness at night, and increased levels of anxiety, lead author Alec Harlow said in a news release.

The findings suggest that both daytime and nighttime social experiences appear to be relevant when examining mental health among evening chronotypes.

How the study was conducted

The research team recruited 442 participants through the online platform Prolific and asked them to complete a series of surveys. The questionnaires measured several factors, including chronotype, or a person's natural preference for sleep and wake times.

Participants also completed established assessments that measured general loneliness, nocturnal loneliness, anxiety, and overall self-rated mental health. Researchers then used statistical models to examine how these factors were related and whether loneliness helped explain the connection between sleep timing and mental health outcomes.

Specifically, the team analyzed whether general loneliness and nighttime loneliness acted as mediators, meaning they could help account for the relationship between chronotype and mental health. The researchers used mediation analyses and structural equation modeling to evaluate those connections.

What the results mean for consumers

The findings showed that participants with later sleep schedules reported significantly higher levels of anxiety. The analysis also revealed that nocturnal loneliness appeared to be a key factor in that relationship.

People who preferred later sleep schedules also tended to experience greater loneliness at night, which in turn was associated with higher anxiety levels.

Researchers found that once nocturnal loneliness was taken into account, the direct link between chronotype and anxiety was no longer significant. This suggests that nighttime loneliness may be an important pathway connecting later sleep schedules and anxiety.

For consumers, the study highlights that social experiences not just sleep habits themselves may be relevant when considering mental well-being. The researchers noted that addressing feelings of loneliness, particularly during nighttime hours, could be a potential area of focus for clinicians and researchers working with people who naturally keep later schedules.

While the study does not prove that staying up late causes anxiety, it offers new insight into how sleep timing, social connection, and mental health may interact.

Evaluating and addressing loneliness, including the challenges that arise at night, such as anxiety, may represent a meaningful intervention target for therapists, clinicians, and researchers to improve the well-being of people with later chronotypes, Harlow said.

New features give families more control over screens and safety

• Apple is introducing new child safety features across its devices later this year.

• Parents will gain more control over communication, web browsing, app access, and screen time.

• Several tools are designed to make child accounts easier to set up and manage while maintaining privacy protections.

Apple is expanding its efforts to help families manage childrens online experiences with a new set of child safety features coming to its devices later this year.

The updates, previewed by Apple this month, focus on giving parents more control over what their children can access, who they can communicate with, and how much time they spend on their devices. The company says the new tools are designed to help families create age-appropriate digital experiences while making parental controls easier to use.

At Apple, our mission has always been to create technology that empowers people and enriches their lives, while helping keep them safe, Sumbul Desai, M.D., Apples vice president of Health and Fitness, said in a news release.

Our approach to helping families create safer digital experiences is grounded in the belief that every child is unique. Thats why we build simple and intuitive tools, based on expert guidance, to let parents tailor their kids digital journey. Today, were introducing major updates to help families thoughtfully establish age-based protections and develop healthy digital habits.

The new features

Among the most notable additions are improvements to Child Accounts, which Apple says will include built-in protections tailored to a childs age. Parents will be guided through the setup process when activating a device for a child, and safety protections can be enabled even before a child is added to a family group.

Apple is also introducing new communication controls that allow parents to approve or decline requests when children want to contact someone new through Messages, FaceTime, or the Phone app.

In addition, a new Ask to Browse feature will let parents require approval before children can visit unfamiliar websites in Safari.

The company is also expanding its Communication Safety protections. Existing tools that help shield children from nude images and videos will now be enhanced to address additional types of sensitive content.

Apple is introducing new Time Allowances that let parents set limits for categories such as social media, games, and entertainment, while updated Screen Time controls will make it easier to view device usage and adjust restrictions.

Apple says many of these settings are informed by child-development and online-safety research and can be customized by families.

Giving parents more control

For consumers, the announcement signals that parental controls are becoming a larger part of the Apple ecosystem.

Families who already use iPhones, iPads, and Macs may soon have additional tools to manage screen time, oversee communications, and create age-appropriate experiences without relying on third-party apps.

While the features wont replace a parents judgment, they could provide more options for families looking to balance technology use with safety and supervision. Apple says the new child safety tools will roll out with upcoming software updates later this year.

New analysis reveals where fans may spend less on tournament trips

• Skyscanner ranked the 10 most affordable host cities for the 2026 soccer tournament based on flight and hotel costs.

• Mexican cities claimed three of the top five spots, with Guadalajara ranking as the least expensive overall.

• The analysis compared average airfare and hotel prices to estimate the cost of a three-night trip for one traveler.

The World Cup, the world's biggest soccer tournament, is set to take place across North America in 2026, and for many fans, travel costs could be just as important as match tickets.

To help travelers plan ahead, Skyscanner analyzed airfare and hotel pricing across all 16 host cities and identified the destinations where visitors may be able to stretch their budgets the furthest.

How the rankings were calculated

To create the rankings, Skyscanner examined average daily one-way flight prices and average nightly hotel rates for each host city between May and August 2026. Flight data was based on fares from major U.S. hub airports, while hotel pricing reflected average accommodation costs in each destination.

The company then estimated the cost of a three-night trip for one traveler by combining the price of a hotel stay with the cost of a round-trip flight, calculated using two one-way fares. Tournament-period costs were based on average prices during June and July, while May and August served as baseline comparison months.

The top 10

Heres a look at the 10 most affordable World Cup host cities:

1. Guadalajara, Mexico $856 per person

2. Monterrey, Mexico $926 per person

3. San Francisco Bay Area, California $1,045 per person

4. Houston, Texas $1,056 per person

5. Mexico City, Mexico $1,189 per person

6. Los Angeles, California $1,272 per person

7. Dallas, Texas $1,290 per person

8. Kansas City, Missouri $1,396 per person

9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania $1,460 per person

10. Atlanta, Georgia $1,554 per person

What this means for travelers

For consumers considering a trip to the tournament, the findings suggest that destination choice could have a significant impact on overall travel expenses. While airfare and hotel rates can fluctuate, the analysis provides a snapshot of where travelers may find relatively lower costs during the event.

The report also highlights nearby alternative cities and suburbs that may offer less expensive accommodations while still providing access to matches. For travelers hoping to balance the excitement of attending games with a manageable travel budget, comparing lodging options beyond the immediate host city could be worth considering.

As always, actual prices will vary depending on travel dates, availability, and booking timing, so early planning may provide the greatest flexibility.

These jobs reward experience with bigger raises over time

• Big raises often come later: Careers like pilots, financial advisors, architects, and market research analysts see some of the strongest salary growth over time.

• Experience boosts earnings: Workers who build specialized skills and expertise often see larger raises as their careers progress.

• Look beyond starting pay: Research what professionals earn 10 years into a career, not just what they make on day one.

When people evaluate a career, they often focus solely on the starting salary. But it turns out that can be a costly mistake.

A new study from Wave Connect suggests that long-term earning potential may matter far more than what a job pays during the first few years. Researchers analyzed nearly 300 occupations to determine which careers reward workers most as they gain experience, comparing salaries early in a career to earnings later in life.

The results show that some professions offer dramatically larger pay increases than others, making them especially attractive for workers focused on building long-term wealth.

The jobs where salaries grow the fastest

According to the study, these careers deliver the biggest salary increases over time:

1. Pilots

2. Financial advisors

3. Architects

4. Market research analysts

5. Telecom equipment installers

6. Financial risk analysts

7. Financial sales agents

8. Chemists

9. Producers and directors

10. Public relations specialists

Pilots topped the list, with salaries growing roughly 4% annually throughout a career. Top airline pilots can eventually earn more than $460,000 per year.

Not surprisingly, financial advisors ranked second since they benefit from the ability to build larger client bases and manage more assets over time. Architects, market research analysts, and financial risk analysts also posted strong long-term earnings growth.

Interestingly, the one career that stands out is telecom equipment installers. Its a career that doesnt typically require a four-year college degree, showing that workers don't always need a bachelor's degree to achieve substantial income growth over time.

Why experience still pays

The careers on the list all have one thing in common: workers become more valuable as they gain experience.

Whether it's advising clients, analyzing markets, designing buildings, or managing public relations campaigns, years of experience help workers develop expertise that employers are willing to pay for.

Many of these jobs also rely heavily on judgment, communication, and relationship-building skills, qualities that remain difficult to automate even as artificial intelligence becomes more common in the workplace.

Smart tips to maximize your earning potential

Look beyond the starting salary

A job that starts at $55,000 but offers strong raises, promotions, and advancement opportunities can ultimately be worth much more than a position that starts at $75,000 but has limited growth potential.

Before choosing a career, research not only what beginners earn, but also what experienced professionals make. The difference can be substantial.

Research earnings 10 years down the road

Many workers focus on entry-level salaries while overlooking long-term earning potential. Spend time researching what professionals earn after a decade or more in the field.

Government data, industry reports, and salary websites can provide a clearer picture of where a career may take you financially. A profession with steady salary growth often produces far greater lifetime earnings than one with a higher starting wage.

Invest in specialized skills

Workers who develop expertise that few others possess often command higher salaries. This makes things like certifications, advanced training, technical knowledge, and leadership experience very important, as they all make you more valuable to employers.

The more specialized your skills become, the harder you are to replace, which can lead to larger raises and better job opportunities.

Prioritize careers with both growth and demand

Strong salary growth means little if jobs are disappearing. When evaluating career options, look at projected hiring trends alongside pay data.

Fields that are expected to add workers over the next decade may provide more opportunities for advancement, promotions, and negotiating power when it comes to compensation.

Keep learning throughout your career

The highest-paid professionals rarely stop developing their skills. Technology, regulations, and industry best practices are constantly evolving.

Taking courses, earning certifications, attending conferences, and staying current on industry trends can help position you for promotions and new opportunities. In many cases, the willingness to keep learning becomes a competitive advantage that pays dividends for decades.