Mood seasonality: a cross-sectional study of subjects aged between 10 and 25 years.
BACKGROUND
Most of the earlier studies on mood seasonality were conducted in adults and there are few available data on children and adolescents. In two cross sectional surveys, we examined the role of age and gender on seasonal sensitivity in subjects aged 10 to 25 years.


METHODS
In survey one, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SPAQ-CA) was administered to 1709 subjects (845 females and 864 males) from 10 to 17 years. In survey two, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) was administered to 1867 subjects (1061 females and 806 males) from 18 to 25 years.


RESULTS
Only in survey one was a significant positive correlation found between age and Global Seasonality Score (GSS) (r=.29; p<.00001). Significant gender differences were found at age 14 years and above in survey one, and at all ages in survey two.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the hypothesis that seasonal sensitivity is higher in female subjects.
Tonetti
Lorenzo
L
Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Barbato
Giuseppe
G
Fabbri
Marco
M
Adan
Ana
A
Natale
Vincenzo
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires