Can Weather Affect Your Mood?

Have you heard of seasonal affective disorder? Do you get irritated when it is too hot? Do you feel like going to sleep on a rainy day? Weather can affect our moods in a variety of ways. Let’s explore!

Some research has been done about weather and the affects that it has on our emotions, however because the studies can vary between people and have conflicting results so a broad general takeway is not always to be had. In fact, the impact on our moods may not be as great as people believe, however here are some findings.

Higher Temperatures

Some studies have shown that higher temperatures can bring a depressed person up, while things like wind or lower temperatures can make a low person even lower.

Have you heard of seasonal affective disorder? Do you get irritated when it is too hot? Do you feel like going to sleep on a rainy day? Weather can affect our moods in a variety of ways. Let’s explore!

Some research has been done about weather and the affects that it has on our emotions, however because the studies can vary between people and have conflicting results so a broad general takeway is not always to be had. In fact, the impact on our moods may not be as great as people believe, however here are some findings.

Higher Temperatures

Some studies have shown that higher temperatures can bring a depressed person up, while things like wind or lower temperatures can make a low person even lower.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

This has been diagnosed as a real disorder with a seasonal pattern. Most people who suffer from this report lethargy, sadness or a lack of drive to do activities in cold, cloudy, dreary areas of the country (most often in the winter). A minority of people suffer from this in the spring and summer months as well. Scientists have prescribed light therapy to people who suffer from this. The light is to replace the sunshine that is lacking.

Heat Brings Out The Worst In People

Researchers have presented that the link between human aggression and higher temperatures is close. As temps rose, intergroup conflicts tended to jump.

Suicides

While spring may be a relief for some as temperatures rise, it’s a season of despair for some who are depressed. Studies show that outdoor workers tend to commit suicide more in the spring, while indoor workers are more likely to commit suicide in the summer. Researchers believe that the longer daylight hours could play a factor in this.

Impact of Weather Depends On Your Weather Personality Type

Researchers found that half of the subjects studied showed that they were affected by weather, while the other half was not. Further study developed these weather personality types:

Summer Lovers (17%)- Happier, less fearful and less angry on days with more sunshine and higher temperatures. More hours of precipitation was associated with less happiness and more anxiety and anger.

Summer Haters (27%)-The exact opposite of summer lovers

Rain Haters (9%)- Angrier and less happy on days with more precipitation. They were more happy and fearful but less angry, on days with more sunshine and higher temperatures.

Unaffected by weather (48%)

Weather Doesn’t Have To Impact Your Mood

Studies showed that mean were less affected by weather than women. Men just changed their plans to take advantage of the weather while women took the brunt of the unexpected weather on their mood. Weather certainly has an impact on people’s mood but it depends on many factors, including your weather personality type but more research is needed to confirm.

See the full article here: http://wnct.com/blog/2016/04/08/can-weather-affect-your-mood/

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