If you find yourself prone to the winter blues, you're not alone. Approximately 10-20% of the population is affected by seasonal depression (also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the cold, dark days of winter. But are there other ways the changing seasons and weather patterns can affect how you feel?
Why is my mood affected by the weather?
Many Americans have likely felt the effects of the weather at some point or another. Maybe you're feeling sleepy on a rainy day or stir-crazy when stuck in the office on a bright, sunny day. Since our brains take in everything around us, it's only natural that we're affected by everything around us. But how does that relate to weather?
Weather is defined as "the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.". Climate is the long-term condition of the weather in a certain area. There is some scientific data backing up climate change's effects on our mental health, but for now, let's focus on the small picture.
Temperature and Happiness
In 2015, then Ph.D. candidate Patrick Baylis took to Twitter to compare data from different weather conditions across the United States. He was specifically looking into whether people expressed more positive or negative emotive words during hot and cold weather.
After looking at 1 billion tweets, the data was in. The study found that people reported peak happiness levels in temperatures ranging from 55 - 72.5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, unlike what many may think, hotter weather wasn't associated with more positive moods. The heat seemed to make people more short-tempered and irritable — higher dips in happiness were reported in temperatures ranging from 81 - 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
No matter what temperature you and your family feel best in, A-TEMP Heating, Cooling & Electrical is here to help you stay comfortable and smiling all year long. Contact our team online or by phone for furnace repair, maintenance, and replacements! (503) 694-3396