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FACT BRIEF

Can Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affect people in summer?

By Carmela Guaglianone
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YES

Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, is traditionally associated with winter months when there are shorter days and less sunlight, but it can also affect people during the spring and summer.

Psychiatrists from the University of Arizona have said symptoms of the condition in the summer months could be the result of changes in daylight duration and exposure to natural light—especially in Arizona, where high temperatures can cause people to stay inside longer than they might otherwise.

These changes in light exposure or routine can have an impact on several aspects of our bodies and lives, like the chemicals that help regulate our mood, our social worlds, or our circadian rhythm, which acts as our internal clock.

SAD symptoms typically last four or five months of the year. Summer associated SAD symptoms can include trouble sleeping, lack of appetite or aggression.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
National Institute of Mental Health Seasonal Affective Disorder
US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
University of Arizona News Beat summertime sadness with these cool tips
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the state’s only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR's mission is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.