title: Seasonal mood patterns in a northeastern college sample.
abstract: Given that seasonality can be conceptualized along a developmental continuum, it is surprising that the college population has been largely excluded from previous epidemiological research on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In this study, college students completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) and Beck Depression Inventory twice during either the Fall or Spring academic semester. SAD prevalence rates were similar to those of nearby adult samples. The SPAQ demonstrated high test-retest reliability when administered during different seasons; however, gender differences only emerged during winter SPAQ administrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, 04469-5742, Orono, ME, USA.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rohan
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sigmon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009511:New England / Q000453:epidemiology; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data