A recent study reveals that men born during the summer months may have a higher likelihood of experiencing depression later in life compared to men born in other seasons. This finding adds a new layer of understanding to how the timing of birth might influence mental health, particularly for males.
Researchers from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada, conducted an international survey involving 303 adults to explore this potential link.
Their analysis showed that men born in summer months reported more symptoms of depression than those born in other seasons, a trend that was not observed in women.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Mental Health, suggests that environmental factors experienced by mothers during pregnancy, such as exposure to varying amounts of sunlight and temperature fluctuations, could be influencing the mental health outcomes of their children.
The study’s lead author, Mikael Mokkonen, noted that the investigation was partly inspired by a casual question about horoscopes, sparking curiosity about whether the time of birth could have biological implications on mental health.
While the idea of seasonality affecting mood is not new—seasonal affective disorder (SAD) being the most well-known example, typically emerging in winter—the concept that birth season might impact lifelong mental health is less explored.
It’s important to emphasize that the research only shows a correlation, not causation. The data collection occurred over a limited two-month period in early 2024, primarily among college-aged participants, which may restrict the generalizability of the results. The study also leaves open the question of why this effect appears to impact men and not women.
Previous scientific evidence has hinted at how seasonal environmental changes can influence prenatal development. Factors like maternal vitamin D levels influenced by sunlight, temperature variations, and maternal diet during pregnancy have all been proposed as contributors to fetal development differences linked to birth season. These subtle variations might affect brain development and later mental health susceptibility.
Experts also note that mental health disorders like depression and anxiety are widespread.
In this study, most participants reported experiencing some symptoms of anxiety (66%) and depression (84%), highlighting that while seasonality might play a role, mental health challenges remain a common issue regardless of birth month.
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