Suddenly the resistance to the time change disappears

According to a survey, resistance among the population to the six-monthly time change is decreasing. According to a Forsa survey commissioned by DAK-Gesundheit, 71 percent are calling for its abolition. That is five percentage points less than the previous year and the lowest value since 2016, as the Hamburg-based health insurance company announced. The rejection of the time change was strongest in 2018 at 80 percent.

The decline in rejection from 66 to 50 percent is greatest in the 18 to 29 year old age group. At 39 percent, this age group also has the greatest support for changing between summer and winter time.

According to the information, 29 percent of those surveyed had already had problems with the time change, either health-related or psychological. Women are affected more often at 36 percent than men at 22 percent. Among those aged 30 to 59, around a third reported having had problems after the switch. For younger adults and people aged 60 and over, fewer than three in ten respondents do so.

According to DAK, those affected most often cite fatigue or fatigue (80 percent) as a problem. 63 percent report problems falling asleep or sleep disorders, followed by problems concentrating (41 percent) and irritability (37 percent). According to the survey, around one in five of those affected also associate depressive moods with the time change.

The time change was introduced in 1980 with the aim of making better use of daylight. Numerous scientific studies indicate that daylight has a positive effect on our well-being. But there is also criticism: In an online survey conducted by the European Commission in 2018, 80 percent of participants were in favor of ending the time change in the EU - out of 4.6 million answers, around 3 million came from Germany. However, there is no Europe-wide solution for abolition in sight as the EU states have not been able to agree on a position for years.

According to the information, Forsa surveyed 1,009 people nationwide on behalf of DAK-Gesundheit from September 28th to 30th, 2026. The information on individual complaints relates to respondents who have already had problems with the time change. The time comparisons refer to the values ​​collected in autumn.