Seasonal Mood and Behavioral Changes for Japanese Residents in the United Kingdom

Yumiko Kurata,Shinobu Nomura

doi:10.4236/psych.2012.329128

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate seasonal changes in mood and behavior for Japanese residents in UK A questionnaire survey was conducted with Japanese residents in the UK (n = 100) who participated both a combination winter and summer research. First, a longitudinal study comparing two surveys—one in summer and another in winter—was carried out to determine how the level of seasonal changes influenced depression among Japanese living in the UK. Then, we examined seasonal changes in mood and behavior over a 12-month period based on the degree of seasonal dependence. Paired t-tests on Global Seasonality Score (GSS score) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores by winter and summer demonstrated that each score had a significant seasonal difference; individual scores were higher in winter than in summer. We examined the difference between high seasonality group, medium seasonal group, and non-seasonal group, regarding to the winter CES-D and summer CES-D scores. The ANOVA revealed a significant difference on the winter score (Winter: F(2,97) = 4.62, p < .01, Summer: F(2,97) = 3.24, p < .05). Although we did not find any interaction between seasonal change and season, the main effect was significant for season. The results showed fluctuations in which mood, social activity, and sleep all declined during the winter and then improved during the summer. It indicated that depressive symptoms among Japanese living in the UK fluctuate due to seasonality; over a period of 12 months, their mood and behavior declined during winter and improved during summer. As described, Japanese living in the UK experience environmental changes due to seasonality. This suggests that the environmental factor called seasonal change can partly explain why Japanese living in the UK suffer from mental and physical disorders. Mental health measures specific to the local environment are necessary to support individuals to adapt to and live under an environment different from home country.

Highlights

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent depression that occurs annually at the same time each year (Rosenthal, Sack, Gilin, Lewy, Goodwin, Davenport, Mueller, Newsome, & Wehr, 1984)
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was higher in participants who had lived in Stockholm for more than 10 years, compared with newcomers who lived in the same city for less than 2 years (Murase, Murase, Kitabatake, Yamauchi, & Mathé, 1995)
Paired t-tests on GSS scores and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scores by winter and summer demonstrated that each score had a significant seasonal difference; individual scores were higher in winter than in summer (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent depression that occurs annually at the same time each year (Rosenthal, Sack, Gilin, Lewy, Goodwin, Davenport, Mueller, Newsome, & Wehr, 1984). Episodes begin in the fall or winter and remit in the spring (Rosen, Targum, Terman, Bryant, Hofman, Kasper, Hamovit, Decherty, Welch, & Rosenthal, 1990). Rates of winter SAD and sub-syndromal winter SAD (S-SAD) were significantly higher at the more northern latitudes (Rosen, Targum, Terman, Bryant, Hofman, Kasper, Hamovit, Decherty, Welch, & Rosenthal, 1990; Magnusson & Stefansson, 1993; Magnusson & Axelsson, 1993). Since Asian group showed significant seasonal variation in depression, with a greater number of depressive episodes in winter, gender and ethnicity may be major risk factors in winter low mood (Suhail & Cochrane, 1998). Japanese participants staying in Stockholm showed more mental and somatic depressive symptoms in the winter than in the summer. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score was higher in participants who had lived in Stockholm for more than 10 years, compared with newcomers who lived in the same city for less than 2 years (Murase, Murase, Kitabatake, Yamauchi, & Mathé, 1995)

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