Would depression be linked to the month of birth? This theory, which seems quite strange at first glance, has just been confirmed by a new study.
“”The idea of this research was born when asked if I thought of horoscopes “ Explains the main study of the study, Mikael Mokkonen. “”I then wondered if there could be a biological basis for their existence, in terms of the link between the date of birth of a person and physiological or mental characteristics“.
Can a birth season affect mental health?
For this work, the scientist and his team at Polytechnique Kwantlen University, in the province of British Columbia, looked at 303 young adults. Most of them were of South Asian, white or Philippine origin.
The cohort, made up of 106 men and 197 women was an average of 26 years. They were interviewed using the PHQ-9 questionnaires for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety.
Almost 84 % of participants presented signs of depression, and 66 % of anxiety disorders. But it was the seasonal variable that caught the attention of researchers.
Men born in summer more affected by depression
The results reveal that the birth season has no clear link with anxiety disorders. On the other hand, for depression, a clear trend emerges in men.
On the PHQ -9 scale, 78 of them born in summer – that is, in the months of June, July and August – were classified slightly to severely depressed. Against only 68 in autumn, 67 in winter, and 58 in the spring.
Mikael Mokkonen does not advance a cause and effect link, after these results. And when asked how he explains them, he believes that “This may be linked to the mother’s environmental conditions during pregnancy “.
The authors also note certain limits to their work, including a limited sample, focused on students in the same region, and an incomplete evaluation of the PHQ-9s for certain participants.
Depression, a complex disorder with multiple faces
Depression remains a common mental disorder, often misunderstood.
This is a “pathology, which is part of mental and psychic diseases “ recalled the psychologist Vincent Trybou, in a previous article. Its manifestations can be both mental and physical: sleep disorders, fatigue, loss of appetite or libido, even physical pain.
“”We feel sad, devoid of energy, demotivated. Our passions no longer interest us, the future seems blocked, we have a low esteem of ourselves and our skills “ he describes.
He specifies that a depression is a disease “which must last at least two consecutive weeks to be considered chronic, pathological and that a diagnosis can be made “.
What are the causes of the disease? Genetic factors, traumatic events, but also lifestyles can trigger a depressed episode. “”Hence the importance of consulting a health professional at the slightest alert“He concludes.