How does the weather affect people’s mood?
Most people know that weather has a great impact on people’s emotions. Most climatology research deals with the topic of how weather affects people’s moods.
Does the weather affect one’s feelings?
In many aspects, one’s general attitude and well-being can be significantly impacted by the weather. Sunshine can raise serotonin levels, just as sunlight raises serotonin levels. For these reasons, it is evident that sunny weather elevates mood and vigor. Conversely, though, being chilly might cause us to become less active and unhappy. Additionally, because we are more likely to spend a lot of time indoors during bad weather, people who already suffer from symptoms like anxiety and depression may experience worsening of those symptoms.
Naturally, not everyone experiences these symptoms, since different people have varied reactions to the weather. Some people, for example, find that the cold gives them more energy than the heat, while others think that the sun is too oppressive and loathe sunny weather. However, it’s often known that the weather may have a big impact on our mental health (Marketing, 2022).
Weather Factors Affecting Mental Conditions
Many claim that the effects of the weather have an impact on people’s mental health. But is it actually the case that bad weather makes people feel depressed?
Research has generally shown that there is more to the association between depressing weather and emotions than merely depressing weather. It is a variation in temperature, air pressure, and moisture that affects our feelings and mental states.
- Humidity
Humidity has a greater impact on our bodies than we realize. The factor influencing our bodies’ perception of temperature is humidity. The body feels hotter and stuffier on days with high humidity and low humidity, and cooler on days with low humidity. Humidity often makes us feel sluggish and less productive since it tends to exacerbate bodily issues.
- Air pressure
On rare occasions, people’s bone pain might be used to forecast the weather. They probably sense the weather in their skeletons because they react to variations in atmospheric pressure. According to The Cleveland Clinic, variations in air pressure, particularly the combination of a drop in temperature and an increase in humidity that characterizes rainy days, can exacerbate joint discomfort. Discomfort can undoubtedly have an impact on one’s attitude. Air pressure variations can also induce or exacerbate migraines.
- Temperature
As mentioned earlier, air pressure can cause some pain. Another study specifically examined how the weather affects emotional and physical symptoms and found that, in addition to joint pain and migraines, the weather affects muscle pain, itchiness, eczema, fatigue, anxiety, convulsions, and depressed moods.
What kind of weather has the greatest impact on our emotions?
Of these three weather types, the one that has the biggest influence on our emotions is temperature. Temperature was the most influential on both physical and emotional symptoms. Also, women seem to be more affected by weather conditions than men, and the elderly are more likely to complain of joint pain.
- Weather and social media
Certain studies have gathered social media data on the influence of weather on people’s moods. Researchers evaluated billions of messages and discovered a correlation between local weather and emotions expressed in social media posts on the same day. In other words, when the weather is exceptionally hot, cold, gloomy, wet, or humid, more individuals feel disappointed, angry, sad, or other unpleasant emotions (AcuRite Team, 2021). The researchers also observed that cold and hot temperatures, precipitation, humidity, and cloud cover were all associated with “worsening of emotional expression.”
The reason why the weather affects people’s mood
We are influenced by our surroundings. In other words, we live under the influence of the environment and the weather.
Weather is indispensable in our daily lives, and it also has a great influence on our mood. In this article, we will look at how weather can affect our emotional and mental state.
Sunlight and happiness: It leads us to believe that sunshine frequently promotes happiness, pleasant conduct, and positive thinking. When the sun shines, we feel more invigorated and positive. Sunlight stimulates the release of pleasure and the chemical serotonin in our brain. This is why people are happy when the sun rises in the summer.
Rain and melancholy: We associate rain with melancholy and despair since it has the opposite atmosphere as sunlight. On overcast and rainy days, our bodies create less serotonin, which can cause lethargy and depression. The sound of rain might be relaxing, but if it continues to rain, it can also make you feel down.
Seasonal Emotional Disorder (SAD): When the weather is terrible, some people experience more severe mood fluctuations than others, a condition known as seasonal emotional disorder. Seasonal personality disorder is one of the symptoms of depression that most usually appears in the fall and winter, when there is less sunshine than in the spring and summer. Symptoms of the illness include a lack of energy, attention, and despondency. However, SAD does not imply that there is no treatment. Treatment options include sun ray therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.
Do you have any weather types that suit each person?
It is claimed that everyone has a style that fits them well. That is why there is precedence for the hypothesis that weather affects people differently.
For example, consider seasonal emotional disturbances (SADs) to have a better understanding. Seasonal emotional disturbances are extreme mood swings brought on by seasonal variations. The most well-known example is winter SAD. It is a sign of depression only during the short winter days.
Statistically, only about 6% of the total population is diagnosed with SAD, which seems to be a relatively rare mood disorder, but the National Institute of Mental Health speculates that the disorder is actually much more common than statistically, but people who feel slightly sad. And a 2011 study found that the weather can actually affect how some people feel. A 2011 study discovered that the weather can influence how certain people feel. As in previous investigations, the overall relationship between weather and mood was of little consequence. According to 2011 research on similar symptoms, half of the participants were primarily influenced by the weather, while the remainder were affected by the weather. However, regardless of inclination, everyone has a distinct favorite season and weather. This demonstrates that everyone’s emotions are impacted by the weather, yet there is a distinction between being strongly affected and being less affected (McCallum, 2021).
Advantages of the gloomy weather
Cold weather generally makes it easier to develop illnesses. A common example is the cold virus. When the temperature drops, we are more likely to get a cold. Colds also scratch your eyes, cause a runny nose, and raise your body temperature. Furthermore, colds are easily transmitted infections. From this perspective, cold weather does not appear to be beneficial to us; yet, there are certain health benefits that we can obtain when the temperature decreases. Here are two of the numerous advantages:
- Cool temperatures activate the brain. The lower the temperature, the more objectively and clearly people can think about it than when the temperature is high. According to studies, humans do better in colder climates than in warmer ones. This is because in the summer, our bodies require more glucose to function than in the winter. It decreases allergic symptoms. Most plants blossom in warm temperatures. That is why flowers blossom abundantly in specific seasons, such as spring and summer. However, people with outdoor allergies may experience severe allergy symptoms as a result of pollen exposure. However, when plants, such as flowers, fall in the winter, their allergy symptoms greatly decrease due to a decrease in pollen count caused by pollen load. However, indoor allergies might worsen in the winter when you have to spend more time indoors with a lot of mold and dust (Abbott, 2022).
- Sunlight and heat are beneficial to health. According to Dr. Allison Bashe of New Directions Counseling, “The sun makes our bodies produce less stress hormones than cold weather because it produces more serotonin in our bodies. That’s why we tend to feel more comfortable and less stressed when the weather is warm and sunny.” Dr. Bashe also stated that the sun’s warm air makes us feel more energized because it is good for the heart and lungs and has a positive effect on lowering blood pressure. Based on all of these positive factors, walking outside and taking vitamin D in warm weather is quite beneficial to our bodies (Shumway, 2022).
Solution
Maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity level might help with mood management. Maintaining ideal temperature and humidity levels in your bedroom and living area spaces enables you to sleep well and keeps the entire family comfortable (AcuRite Team, 2021). We cannot ignore the weather’s impact on our emotions, but we can cope with it properly. This helps us cope with weather-related mood problems while also improving our general mental health.
How to deal with weather-induced mood disorders
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques, as well as gradual muscle relaxation, are ways to relax the various muscles involved in the gradual muscle relaxation technique. The weather can also help us relax and promote rest, even when it causes stress.
- Writing a journal or a weather diary will help you learn about the connection between your weather conditions and your emotional state and take some time to think about how to deal with it (counselling services, 2023).
Conclusion
An essential aspect to remember in the research on the impacts of weather on mood is that practically every paper or study’s findings are impacted by a variety of factors, including the individual participants’ own preferences and experiences. As a result, the easiest method to figure out how the weather impacts you and your family is to monitor mood swings in the weather forecast. You may also download the default weather diary page for Junior Weather Watchers, create sections in your diary to track your mood and weather, or use an app. Once you understand how weather affects your mood, you may take extra self-care actions on days when you may require assistance (AcuRite Team, 2021). As a result, the weather has a significant influence on our mood and mental condition. Sunlight may offer happiness and pleasant feelings; however, rain can elicit negative emotions like despair and depression. Temperature has a significant impact on our emotions as well. Too hot weather might upset us or sap our enthusiasm by depleting our energy. That is why it is critical to understand how the weather affects us and take steps to control our emotions properly (Kalentzis, 2023). Weather is an important component of our lives; it influences our everyday lives, activities, and even our moods. Many people discuss the weather, but we need to pay more attention to the link between weather and mental health. Weather has a significant influence on our mental health and daily lives, and recognizing these connections may help us better explore our mental health even on sunny days (Hope Therapy & Counseling Services, 2023).
Reference
Abbott, D. (2022). Top 10 Health Benefits of Cold Weather. [online] www.linkedin.com. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-health-benefits-cold-weather-daniel-abbott [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
AcuRite Team (2021). Does Weather Affect Your Mood? | AcuRite. [online] www.acurite.com. Available at: https://www.acurite.com/blog/does-weather-affect-mood.html [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
Hope Therapy and Counselling Services (2023). How weather impacts people’s mental health. [online] www.counselling-directory.org.uk. Available at: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/memberarticles/how-weather-impacts-peoples-mental-health [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
Kalentzis, A. (2023). 🌞 How the weather may affect our mood: A Psychological Perspective. [online] www.linkedin.com. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-weather-may-affect-our-mood-psychological-antonio-kalentzis [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
Marketing, B. (2022). The Weather and Your Mood: How the Two Are Connected. [online] Optimum TMS. Available at: https://optimumtms.com/the-weather-and-your-mood-how-the-two-are-connected/ [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
McCallum, K. (2021). Can Weather Affect Your Mood? [online] www.houstonmethodist.org. Available at: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/jul/can-weather-affect-your-mood/ [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
Shumway, J. (2022). Good for your health: Sunshine and warm weather – CBS Pittsburgh. [online] www.cbsnews.com. Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/sun-and-warm-weather-good-for-your-health/#:~:text=%22The%20sun%20signals%20our%20body [Accessed 13 January. 2024].
