Men born in this season may face a higher risk of depression, study finds

Men, if you are feeling depressed, it seems you could blame it on the season you were born in. And if somebody asks, quote this study.Researchers from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Canada wanted to investigate whether the season of a person's birth influences their likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms in adulthood.They analysed samples of 303 people- 106 men and 197 women recruited from universities across Vancouver and came from a 'global population' with an average age of 26. Among these, 31.7% were South Asian, 24.4% were White, and 15.2% were Filipino.The seasons of their birth were categorised respectively to the months: spring (March, April, May), summer *June, July, August), autumn (September, October, November) and winter (December, January, February).Additionally, it was noted that mental health conditions were common among these participants, with 84% of them having symptoms of depression and 66% anxiety.

Do seasons influence depression?

After examining the numbers, the researchers concluded that while anxiety is not linked to seasonal trends, depression is.They found that 78 males born in the summer season could be classified as minimally depressed, mildly depressed, moderately depressed, moderately severely depressed and severely depressed on the PHQ-9 scale.

'The research highlights the need for further investigation into sex-specific biological mechanisms that may connect early developmental conditions (like light exposure, temperature, or maternal health during pregnancy) with later mental health outcomes,' said lead author of the study, Arshdeep Kaur.While the research opens new insight into depression, a condition that leads to about 700,000 to 800,000 suicides annually, as per the WHO, it also has its own limitations. Along with having a small sample from a similar demographic, the authors noted that not every participant in the sample correctly completed the required PHQ-9 questions; thus, only 271 people's depression and anxiety statuses were assessed.