Seasonal Variations in Mood and Behavior in Romanian Postgraduate Students

Abstract

To our knowledge, this paper is the first to estimate seasonality of mood in a predominantly Caucasian sample, living in areas with hot summers and a relative unavailability of air conditioning. As a summer pattern of seasonal depression was previously associated with a vulnerability to heat exposure, we hypothesized that those with access to air conditioners would have a lower rate of summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD) compared to those without air conditioning. A convenience sample of 476 Romanian postgraduate students completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), which was used to calculate a global seasonality score (GSS) and to estimate the rates of winter- and summer-type SAD. The ratio of summer- vs. winter-type SAD was compared using multinomial probability distribution tests. We also compared the ratio of summer SAD in individuals with vs. without air conditioners. Winter SAD and winter subsyndromal SAD (S-SAD) were significantly more prevalent than summer SAD and summer S-SAD. Those with access to air conditioners had a higher, rather than a lower, rate of summer SAD. Our results are consistent with prior studies that reported a lower prevalence of summer than winter SAD in Caucasian populations. Finding an increased rate of summer SAD in the minority of those with access to air conditioners was surprising and deserves replication.

Seasonal affective disorder and the Romanian stock market

“…Genetic type, gender and age are found to matter in SAD prevalence. For instance, Asians are more prone to summer-type SAD (Han et al, 2000;Ito et al, 1992) while for Caucasians it is more common to suffer from winter-type SAD (Magnússon & Axelsson, 1993;Soriano et al, 2007). Also, the highest propensity for SAD is found in women and younger individuals, compared with men and older individuals (Hedge & Woodson, 1996).…”

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“…For instance, employees may be concerned about the confidentiality of their responses but may feel pressured to participate nonetheless (and this may compromise their responses) and absenteeism due to SAD may bias the sample. Similar problems likely apply to the studies KM cite that use student samples, including Han et al (2000aHan et al ( , 2000b, Soriano et al (2007), Lee et al (2005), and Lee et al (2006). Authors of several of the studies KM cite in their Appendix A are careful to note, themselves, that their samples are not representative of the general population.…”

“…Authors of several of the studies KM cite in their Appendix A are careful to note, themselves, that their samples are not representative of the general population. For instance Eagles et al (1996) indicate their sample is ''not a random sample of the population'' (p. 132) and Soriano et al (2007) write ''[m]edical students likely do not represent the Romanian population as a whole'' (p. 877).…”

“…Some require that subjects report feeling worst in one of December, January, or February (e.g. Soriano et al (2007), Hedge and Woodson (1996)). Others require that subjects report feeling worst in January or February (e.g., Rosen et al (1990), Muscettola et al (1995), Kasper et al (1989b)), and so on.…”

“…For example, Soriano et al (2007) examine the influence of air conditioning on incidence of reverse (summer) SAD. 34 KM report their Appendix A estimates to two decimal places.…”