Has the heat got you down? You’re probably not alone.
Wintertime—with its long, dark nights—is the season most associated with low mood and depression. But sun-filled summer days can also bring on the doldrums, particularly for the subset of people who experience a summertime version of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)—a type of depression with a periodic pattern.
Multiple studies have documented that heat can affect mood disorders and behavior, says Kim Meidenbauer, an assistant professor of psychology at Washington State University, who studies heat’s psychological effects. Increases in aggression and violent crimes have been well documented on hotter days and during summertime, Meidenbauer says.
Read the full story:
Scientific American