Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior Report (Assessment)

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The article “More prominent reactivity in mood that activity and sleep induced by differential light exposure due to seasonal and local differences” investigates the differences and deviations in mood and activity of a person caused by different outside factors. The authors assume that there are differences in both mood and activities caused by seasonal changes and time frames. The authors explain that discovering the mood of a person is vital to productive interaction, and, in this case, requires that a series of investigations be met.

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The authors state that medical professionals are only skating on the surface of meaning of seasonal changes, unable to penetrate the arena of primordial commitments and causes. In order to comprehend these problems psychologists must learn to speak correctly rather than simply identify and manage causes of disorders and changes in mood. Nonetheless, what psychologists are doing when they gather information must assume a new form. The main objective of the research study is to investigate the impact of seasonal changes of “mood, work time, light exposure, activity, and sleep indices on people” (Park et al 2007, p. 905). The main geographical areas are Rochester, Minnesota, and San Diego, California. If reliability could be guaranteed, the procedural flaws analytical of error could be minimized. By following methodological rules, failures could be randomized. Ensuring consistency is relatively easy. The research involves only volunteers from these regions.

The researchers selected 24 individuals (38.92 + 11.32 years old) from Rochester, Minnesota, USA and 30 individuals (47.03+16.32 years old) from San Diego, California, USA. The researchers underline that not so well-known are the mechanisms through which these effects come about, and it is these mediating processes that have the most direct implications for clinical intervention (Park et al 2007, p. 910). The studies have attempted to link these mediating processes with outcomes that are internalizing or externalizing in nature, that is, internal feeling states or outward behaviors. The rather dense discussion that follows reflects the complicated pattern of relationships that researchers have sought to examine in their inquiries. During the research study, the authors’ recorded daily logs of each individual including such areas as work time and sleep diary. The main analytical tools involve the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; the eight-item atypical subscore of the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Also, the researchers use actigraphic measures of light exposure and sleep. In terms of assessment, the mechanism adopted for making comparisons was viewed as a scheme that is impervious to interpretation. Further, the ability to incorporate differences and make distinctions was operative. Thus, differences were comparable if they were “thematic,” or understood to be relevant to one another. Relevance was based on empirical indices. Because different empirical indices had identical meanings, these differences were merged. In short, ostensibly different base lines were similar and readily compared.

The obtained results were the following: “Higher scores of CES-D ( p j 0.038) and the eight-item atypical subscore of SIGH-SAD ( p j 0.009), and longer indoor ( p j 0.001) and shorter outdoor ( p j 0.002) work times”. No differences were found between two geographical areas. Thus, the negatively correlated scores were identified with the mesor of light ( p j 0.034). These data show that activity and sleep do not have a great and profound impact on mood and possible changes in mental states. Thus, seasonal changes in light time exposure are dominant factors of low mood and some emotional disorders (Park et al 2007, p. 910). The main limitations of this research are the small sample size and lack of comparison between subjects and other cities. Also, the researchers do not take into account impact of climate and temperature on mood.

The research results suggest that mood variations and changes are a result of time exposure and seasonal differences. However, according to advocates of seasonal changes, the claim that facts, methodologies, and social reality are imbued with factors is hard to deny. What reflexivity does is to bring these mental acts out into the open, so their relevance can be debated. If impartiality is undermined at any time during an intervention, this occurs when research strategies and clinical methods are formulated. It is admitted that: “The influence of latitude on mood or circadian rhythms should be considered along with other factors like climate, genetic vulnerability, and social-cultural context” (Park 2007, p. 918).

In order to overcome possible changes in mood, people should change into account seasonal variations of their geographical area. But because of seasonal character, psychological tasks can never be perfect. As a result of reflection, the point is made clear that psychological interventions are replete with these changes. Earlier the statement is made that psychologists should be concerned with health, as opposed to normalcy. In view of the images of the knowledge and order that have been advanced, distinguishing seasonal changes and mood changes should not be considered odd. Health is a personal and sometimes a communal determination, based on principles that are localized, whereas the behavioral normalcy usually relates to uniform social and medical standards. The study is interested in psychologists and other practitioners as it unveils possible problems and changes in psychological states of people during different seasons.

References

Park, Doo-Heum, Kripke, Daniel F. and Roger J. Cole. (2007). More prominent reactivity in mood that activity and sleep induced by differential light exposure due to seasonal and local differences. Chronobiology International, 24(5): 905–920.

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IvyPanda. (2022) 'Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior'. 12 May.

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IvyPanda. 2022. "Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior." May 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/seasonal-affective-disorder/.

1. IvyPanda. "Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior." May 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/seasonal-affective-disorder/.


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IvyPanda. "Seasonal Changes in Mood and Behavior." May 12, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/seasonal-affective-disorder/.

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