Now that winter weather is behind us, conversations with friends and co-workers are noticeably cheerier and there’s a bit more spring in our step.
That mood shift is not just our imagination. There’s just something about springtime that has a small influence, positively and even occasionally negatively, on our mindset. Below are just some of the ways the warm weather can affect our attitudes.
Spending time outdoors when it’s sunny is linked with a mood boost.
The gold standard on this subject is a 2004 University of Michigan study that found people who spent at least 30 minutes outside in pleasant weather – either by taking a trip to warmer climates in the winter months or by taking advantage of a newly warm spring day in the park – had happier moods. And in corroborating research, a 2014 UM study found that being outside could lead to a better mindset and reduced stress.
But if you’re still stuck in the tundra, don’t worry too much. Kelly Rohan, PhD, a professor of psychiatric science at the University of Vermont, points out that weather pales in comparison to other stress mitigators, such as the lessening of relationship or work pressures. While warmer weather doesn’t make a sizable difference in outlook, research supports the idea that nice weather has a positive psychological impact on the overall population, she told The Huffington Post.
But don’t expect the same effect on the dog days of August.
The weather-mood connection is a positive one, up to a point. The original University of Michigan researchers also noted that positive attitudes seemed to wilt in particularly sweltering weather – an idea that’s also supported by other research conducted on climate and mood change.
Despite the fact that summer brings sunnier days and brighter colours, people are at a greater risk for heatstroke and dehydration during the warmer months, Brent Solvason, MD, a Stanford University clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences, told HuffPost. “There’s clearly a sense of discomfort because of the oppressiveness of the heat,” he said. Both dehydration and heatstroke can have an influence on mood or behaviour and, at their worst, can also damage the brain.
We’re generally happier when the days are longer.
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