In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

As the nation “falls back” to standard time, Americans are twice as likely to say their mood declines in the winter (41%) as they are to say it improves (22%), according to the latest Healthy Minds Monthly Poll from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). However, when spring comes around, 61% of respondents reported feeling better, an APA news release stated. When asked about what behaviors and feelings they noticed during the winter, Americans reported sleeping more (41%), feeling fatigued (28%), feeling depressed (27%), feeling moody (23%), losing interest in things they like (20%), eating more sweets (21%), and problems sleeping (14%). When asked to select which activities were most likely to boost their mood in the winter, those polled were most likely to select eating good food (46%); reading, watching TV or engaging in other indoor habits (42%); or spending time with family and friends at the holidays (40%). When asked which activities helped them cope with winter weather, respondents were most likely to select talking with friends and family (46%), sleeping more (35%), and going outside (35%). Generally, women reported more behavioral changes related to the change of season, such as feeling moody, and were less likely to report feeling happier (15% of women versus 21% of men).