Summary: The Influence Of Weather On Mood

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Do rainy days get you down? You might not be the only one. Research suggests that weather influences mood (Grohol, 2014). Various aspects of weather’s conditions and effects can influence a person’s mood and behaviour. Carolyn Gregoire wrote that weather has an impact on a person’s mood and with global warming contributing to drastic changes in weather patterns, weather’s effects on mood will escalate in the near future (2014). Weather conditions influence different personality types in different ways as well (Grohol, 2014). Researchers conducted a study with 415 participants to examine their mood in specific weather situations (Klimstra et al., 2011). Their research concluded with the following: 17% (called ‘summer lovers’) felt happier, less …show more content…

Studies have shown that warm weather influences the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is essential to the mind’s overall wellbeing as well as relaxation during a sleep cycle (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012). Heat itself is not a major factor, but high humidity associated with heat is what causes wakefulness (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012). The REM stage is decelerated as the skin perspires more due to high humidity (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012). This is because wakefulness is the only stage of the sleep schedule that is able to cope with high levels of humidity (Okamoto-Mizuno & Mizuno, 2012). As the body is not able to successfully complete the wakefulness stage and continue to the REM stage, optimal levels of sleep are never achieved. This, in turn, explains why energy conversion is influenced by high humidity levels, as the body needs a sufficient amount of rest in order to successfully convert energy. Furthermore, on cold days the body’s urination increases and produces more adrenaline (stress hormone) than on warm days (BaHammam, n.d.). As these hormones and bodily secretion rise, stress, blood pressure and tension rise as well (BaHammam, n.d.). Quality of sleep is negatively influenced by these effects and as a result, sleep quality is poor. As sleep quality is poor, the body does not have sufficient rest time to re- energize and relax, which then leads to lack of sufficient energy throughout the day. Therefore, it can be stated that low temperature levels throughout the evening influence the body’s energy conversion and lead to lack of energy throughout the day. Aside from the effects of hot and cold temperatures on energy conversion, weather patterns influence the mind’s ability to

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