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Environmental Based Study on
Seasonal Variations of Mood and
Behavior
SADAF SAJJAD
Assistant Professor/Clinical Psychologist
Department of Humanity
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology
Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad
PAKISTAN
sadafsajjad@comsats.edu.pk
Abstract: - An environmental based research was conducted to find the seasonal affected moods and behavior with
regard to difference in gender, area and age. The sample (N) consisted of 349 males and 301 females from different
regions of Pakistan. We collected the sample of age range from 18 to 60 years. The self-administered Seasonal Pattern
Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was used as a tool of assessment. In our sample the prevalence of self-reported
depressive mood during the extreme summer and winter season was estimated at 67% and was slightly higher among
females (51%) than males (49%). Females reported more severe depressive symptoms (66.6%) than males (33.3%). The
Sample was collected from 6 climatic regions of extreme winters and 6 from extreme summers (Temperature below 0°C
and above 40°C) It was found that extreme weathers have a significant effect on moods. Depressive mood during the
mild and moderate season was rare. Depressive symptoms were higher among age range 41-60. This is an under
diagnosed condition that should receive more attention from the health authorities.
Key-Words: - SPAQ, Seasonal affected mood disorder, Climate, SAD, Depressive mood, Environment.
1 Introduction
Attempts have been made to relate environmental
preferences to personality characteristics, race and
national character (Hall 1976; Berry 1976). Some
environmentally based researches show the prevalence of
seasonal variation in mood among People. Rastad,
Cecilia., Ulfberg, Sjoden,and Per-Olow investigated the
Swedish senior high school students and found that
Depressive symptoms during autumn and winter were
common, especially among girls. In their study students
17 to 18 years old, registered in the second year of senior
high school in Falun, a district in central Sweden, were
screened with the SPAQ in January 2003 (response rate
87.3%, n = 756). The prevalence of self-reported
depressive mood during the winter season was estimated
at 20.1% (n = 151/751) and was higher among girls than
boys [1].
Professor Masako Okawa conducted a cross sectional
epidemiological survey in Kyoto, Japan to assess the
effect of seasonal changes in mood and behavior in a
sample of Japanese graduate students with regard to
gender differences, and to estimate the prevalence of
seasonal affective disorder (SAD) among them. In his
study he found that female graduate students were more
affected by the seasonal changes than males and their
mood and behavior changes as assessed by SPAQ. The
prevalence of depression in winters was reported higher
as compared to summers [2].
A growing number of studies report an asymmetry in the
seasonal distribution of suicides, with a peak in the late
spring months for both sexes. Pakistan is a country with a
warm and dry weather. In the south it is tropic and in the
North it is cold in winters and hot in summer. The
monsoon (Rain) Period starts in July and lasts only a
month.
2 Purpose and Rationale of the Study
The present research was conducted to study the
relationship between seasonal affected mood disorder
and behavior with regard to difference in gender, area and
age.
3 Hypothesis
We hypothesized that seasons have significant effect on
moods. Seasonal affective mood disorder would be more
prevalent in extreme seasons (Temperature below 0°C
and above 40°C) as compared to moderate and mild
weathers. Gender, Area and Age would have a different
impact on seasonal related moods.
4 Method and Procedure
4.1 Sample
The Questionnaires was distributed among 806 people
from different regions of Pakistan. The participants who
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45
completed the questionnaire and whose responses were
included in the study were 650. Total numbers of males
were 349 and Females were 301. The characteristics of
the subjects are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2.
4.2 Instrument
The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ)
was used as a screening instrument in the research on
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a frequently
used screening instrument in the research on Seasonal
Affective Disorder (1987).
4.3 Procedure
The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ)
was used as a screening instrument in this research in
different climatic regions of Pakistan. With the
willingness of the respondents the Questionnaire was
given to them. Respondents were also asked to give their
age, gender, education, profession, and socio-economic
status.
Table 1: Summary of Respondents
Age
Groups
N Male Female Qualification
18-26 220 130 120 4 or more
years post
high school
27-40 215 119 101 4 or more
years post
high school
41-60 215 100 80 4 or more
years post
high school
Table 2: Areas with Different Climatic Regions
Area
Code
Total N Total
males
Total
Females
GLT 50 25 25
MZF 50 25 25
SWT 50 25 25
HRI 50 25 25
ABT 100 74 25
MNS 50 25 25
LHR 50 25 25
KHR 50 25 25
IBD 50 25 26
QTA 50 25 25
HYD 50 25 25
PES 50 25 25
5 Scoring and Results
The scoring was done by calculating the percentages on
each and every Question responses of the respondents.
The tabulation was divided into 3 main areas that are age,
gender and climatic regions.
The percentages on each question were calculated
separately. The results of respective ratings with respect to
age, gender and area are tabulated in the forth coming
tables (3, 4 and 5)
Table 3: Age related moods affected by seasons
Age Group Change% No change
%
18-26 62 38
27-40 63 37
41-60 76 24
Table.4: Gender related moods affected by seasons
Gender Change% Change
season as a
problem %
Male 49 33.3
Female 51 66.6
Table.5: Area related differences of moods
Area Code SAD in
winters%
SAD in
summers%
GLT 71.1 28.9
MZF 80 20
SWT 80 20
HRI 67 33
ABT 67 33
MNS 66.6 33.4
LHR 11 89
KHR 4.3 95.7
IBD 34.7 65.3
QTA 59.8 40.2
HYD 3.5 96.5
PES 5.4 94.6
Recent Advances in Fluid Mechanics, Heat & Mass Transfer and Biology
ISBN: 978-960-474-268-4
46
Figure 1. Age related moods affected by seasons
Figure 2. Gender related moods affected by seasons
Figure 3. Area related Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD)
6 Discussion
The results of the research study shows that the results are
consistent with the findings previously reported by many
researchers. Previously all the researches reported are
performed in the extreme cold climate. Our research is
the first attempt to find out about SAD in both the
weathers. It is proved that environment has influence on
behavior at several levels. The environmental
psychologists explain that characteristics of a person are
shaped by the nature and type of environment in which
they live for a long period of time. Thus it can be
explained that climate influences temperament. In our
research 67% people reported change in temperaments
which is related to the weather. The change is related to
depressive symptoms in extreme weathers. In the cold
weather the freezing possibility can brings feelings of
insecurity. People living in cold region have to plan about
winters for example warm clothes, footwear and heating
arrangements. This insecurity may lead towards any
problematic behavior like aggressiveness or depression.
In an extreme warm climate the temperament is
characterized by laziness and inertia. In a very hot place,
it is unpleasant to keep working, because of perspiration
and fatigue [3]. The mild and moderate climate brings
harmony and person is in a balanced state with relation to
environment. The difference in age and gender responses
can be explained on the basis of difference of
psychological needs of the people according to their
gender and age, since the environment shapes and limits
behavior and these shapes and limits may be different for
Recent Advances in Fluid Mechanics, Heat & Mass Transfer and Biology
ISBN: 978-960-474-268-4
47
different age groups or gender so there is a response
difference. In our research we found that the females
reported more severe depressive symptoms (66.6%) than
males (33.3%) and depressive symptoms were higher
among age range 41-60.
7 Conclusion
The research attempts to study the seasonal affected
moods and behavior with regard to difference in gender,
area and age. It is concluded that people feel change in
extreme weathers and the extreme weathers have a
significant effect on moods. Depressive symptoms were
higher among age range 41-60. Females reported more
severe depressive symptoms than males. This needs
attention from the environmental psychologists and
health authorities. Further research is required to
investigate the causes of difference in responses for age
and gender.
References:
[1] Rastad, Cecilia., Ulfberg, Sjoden,and Per-Olow,
High Prevalence of Self-Reported Depressive Mood
During the Winter Season Among Swedish Senior
High School Students, Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,
45(2):231-238, February 2006.
[2] Masako Okawa, Seasonal variations of mood and
behavior among Japanese graduate students,
Department of Psychiatry, Shiga University of
Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu
520-2192, Japan
[3] Berry J W, Ecological and cultural factors in
spatial perceptual development; Environmental
psychology, Winston, New York. 1976
[4] Baum A., Singer J E and Valins S (Eds) Advances in
Environmental Psychology: Vol I - The Urban
Environment: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.;New York
1978
Recent Advances in Fluid Mechanics, Heat & Mass Transfer and Biology
ISBN: 978-960-474-268-4
48
