Two longterm studies of seasonal variation in depressive symptoms among community participants.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There is evidence that seasonal variation in depressive symptoms is common in the population. However, research is limited by a reliance on longterm retrospective methods.

Methods

Seasonal patterns were tested in two samples of community participants recruited in separate prospective studies in the Midwestern (n=556 males/females) and Pacific Northwestern (n=206 males) United States. Participants completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms 10-19 times from ages 14 to 36 years (n=8316 person observations). These data were compared with local meteorological conditions (e.g., solar radiation) recorded across the 2 weeks prior to each self-report.

Results

In within-subjects analyses, participants' depressive symptoms and the probability of clinically

SUBMITTER: Kerr DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3848501 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature