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Gulf Today
25-06-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Exposure to heat waves may be tied to depression in adolescents, researchers say
Exposure to oppressive and often life-threatening heat waves has been tied to an increased risk of depression and anxiety in adolescents. Chinese researchers found that young males and rural students in the East Asian country may be the most susceptible, suggesting that targeted response strategies should be implemented. "Our findings emphasize the need to develop public health strategies to protect students from the adverse effects of extreme heat," the authors wrote in a research paper recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The study's authors were able to estimate exposure to the heat waves by looking at the health data of nearly 20,000 adolescents between the ages of 10 to 18. The data was collected from a national school-based health survey conducted in 2021. Of those, more than half of the adolescents were females and the majority were junior high school students, aged around 15. Measured using a questionnaire and scale, 19.37 percent and 16.27 percent of adolescents reported depression and anxiety, respectively. The students' exposure to heat was assessed by using three heatwave metrics: excess heat, maximum temperature and minimum temperature. They found that there higher odds of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions for each unit increase in the magnitude of the heat wave. Although, when using different definitions of heat waves, the results were not as consistent. The study comes as heat waves become more frequent and intense due to the effect of human-caused climate change. The dangerous heat across the East Coast of the US this week was made between three and five times more likely because of climate change, according to the non-profit Climate Central. Heat alerts were also issued in Beijing this week, the official English-language website of China News Service reported. Research published earlier this year found that the number of people suffering mental health crisis is spiking in areas most impacted by climate change. The authors said young people in southern Madagascar reported extremely high levels of anxiety and depression. In a separate report, authors said that climate change stress is also responsible for symptoms of anxiety. The effects of heat on mental health have also been established, with hot weather disrupting hormones and sleep and resulting in changes to mood and behavior. Last summer, the American Psychological Association urged that policy and infrastructure changes been implemented to safeguard mental health from the impact of high temperatures. "The way we are headed right now, things are only going to get worse," Dr. Kim Meidenbauer, an assistant professor of psychology at Washington State University, told the association then. "If we don't even understand the scope of the effect heat is having on us, that bodes poorly for our ability to protect people from the negative psychological consequences." Yizhen Yu, a co-author of the new study and professor at the Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, told PsyPost that their conclusions highlight the importance of recognizing the well-being of youth during extreme climate events - and the need for policymakers and others to pay attention. "Policymakers should integrate heat resilience into public health strategies - for example, by revising school safety protocols during heatwaves. Ultimately, meaningful collaboration across health, education, and environmental sectors is essential to protect and promote youth mental health in the face of climate challenges," he said. The Independent
Hindustan Times
22-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Can heatwave lead to depression? Study reveals effect of climate change on mental health
The way we experience heatwaves may be more than just physical; it could be affecting our mental health too. A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found a stronger link between heatwaves and mental health issues among students living in rural areas. This research serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the growing impact of climate change not only on our physical well-being but also on our psychological health. Here's how heatwaves can affect mental health.(Shutterstock) To understand the link of climate change on psychological distress, the study authors analysed data from nearly 20,000 adolescents in China. Aged between 10 to 18 years, the students were selected based on variations of geographic regions, school types, and urban-rural settings. In the end, 19,852 participants were selected, with equal number of girls and boys. Also read | Is heatwave making you cranky? Impact of extreme heat on moods; how to deal with it The results were surprising. The study authors noticed a significant association of exposure to heatwaves to the psychological health of the study. More exposure to heatwaves resulted in greater risk of depression, anxiety, and the co-occurrence of both conditions. For each unit of increase in heatwave magnitude, there was a 13 percent increased risk of depression, and the odds of anxiety increased by 12 percent. Exposure to heatwaves can lead to depression.(Unsplash) Study author Yizhen Yu, a professor at the Tongji Medical College at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, told PsyPost, 'While the physical consequences of heatwaves are well-documented, their psychological effects on adolescents remain understudied. Given adolescents' unique developmental vulnerabilities and the growing threat of extreme heat events due to climate change, our study aimed to help bridge this important knowledge gap. Our findings suggest that exposure to heatwaves is associated with a higher risk of depression and anxiety symptoms among Chinese adolescents.' The study is a wake-up call: The study author further added that the study highlights the need of emphasising on mental health and how the changing climate can have effect on students and cause psychological distress. This can help schools, families, and policymakers understand the need of psychological wellbeing, amid growing climate concerns. Also read | Brain fog to mood swings: Expert shares 7 alarming ways the summer heat affects your mental health Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
