Cold season air temperature as predictor of psychological well-being and mental health

Abstract

The effects of climate change on mental health are far from being fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate potentially beneficial effects of warm ambient temperatures on psychological well-being and mental health during cold seasons. High-resolution data from 156 meteorological stations were matched with representative survey data on stress, loneliness, affect, life satisfaction, and self-reported health of N = 8,017 individuals. The analyses revealed that higher ambient temperatures were associated with lower perceived stress levels (14-day lag: ß=-0.151, p =.033; 30-day lag: ß=-0.238, p =.018) and better self-reported health (7-day lag: ß=0.178, p =.013). Moreover, intermediate ambient temperatures were linked with less loneliness (14-day lag: ß=-0.147, p =.033), greater life satisfaction (7-day lag: ß=-0.195, p =.002; 14-day lag: ß=-0.176, p =.011), and better self-reported health (same day: ß=-0.171, p =.001; 14-day lag: ß=-0.138, p =.041). These findings shed more nuanced light on the impact of climate change on mental health.