Winter blues may no longer serve as an excuse to skip work

“It is clear from prior research that SAD exists. But our research suggests that what we often think of as the winter blues does not affect people nearly as much as we may think,” Kerr said.

Kerr and his colleagues analysed data from a sample of 556 community participants in Iowa and 206 people in western Oregon. Participants completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms multiple times over a period of years. These data were then compared with local weather conditions,including sunlight intensity,during the time participants filled out the reports.

In one study,some 92 per cent of Americans reported seasonal changes in mood and behaviour,and 27 per cent reported such changes were a problem. Yet the study suggests that people may be overestimating the impact of wintery skies.

“We found a very small effect during the winter months,but it was much more modest than would be expected if seasonal depression were as common as many people think it is,” said Columbia University researcher Jeff Shaman,a study co-author and a former OSU faculty member.

“We were surprised. With a sample of nearly 800 people and very precise measures of the weather,we expected to see a larger effect,” Shaman said. Kerr believes people may have overestimated the power of the winter blues for a few reasons.

These may include awareness of SAD,the high prevalence of depression in general,and a legitimate dislike of winter weather. “We may not have as much fun,we can feel cooped up and we may be less active in the winter. But that’s not the same as long-lasting sadness,hopelessness,and problems with appetite and sleep – real signs of a clinical depression,” Kerr said. The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.