Assessing seasonal and weather effects on depression and physical activity using mobile health data

RADAR-CNS Consortium

doi:10.1038/s44184-025-00125-x

Assessing seasonal and weather effects on depression and physical activity using mobile health data

RADAR-CNS Consortium

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Abstract

Seasonal and weather changes can significantly impact depression severity, yet findings remain inconsistent across populations. This study explored depression variations across the seasons and the interplays between weather changes, physical activity, and depression severity among 428 participants in a real-world longitudinal mobile health study. Clustering analysis identified four participant subgroups with distinct patterns of depression severity variations in 1 year. While one subgroup showed stable depression levels throughout the year, others peaked at various seasons. The subgroup with stable depression had older participants with lower baseline depression severity. Mediation analysis revealed temperature and day length significantly influenced depression severity, which in turn impacted physical activity levels indirectly. Notably, these indirect influences manifested differently or even oppositely across participants with varying responses to weather. These findings support the hypothesis of heterogeneity in individuals' seasonal depression variations and responses to weather, underscoring the necessity for personalized approaches in depression management and treatment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	11
Journal	NPJ Mental Health Research
Volume	4
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44184-025-00125-x
Publication status	Published - 18 Apr 2025

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Assessing seasonal and weather_ZHANG_Publishedonline18April2025_GOLD VoR (CC-BY)Final published version, 1.51 MBLicence: CC BY

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title = "Assessing seasonal and weather effects on depression and physical activity using mobile health data",

abstract = "Seasonal and weather changes can significantly impact depression severity, yet findings remain inconsistent across populations. This study explored depression variations across the seasons and the interplays between weather changes, physical activity, and depression severity among 428 participants in a real-world longitudinal mobile health study. Clustering analysis identified four participant subgroups with distinct patterns of depression severity variations in 1 year. While one subgroup showed stable depression levels throughout the year, others peaked at various seasons. The subgroup with stable depression had older participants with lower baseline depression severity. Mediation analysis revealed temperature and day length significantly influenced depression severity, which in turn impacted physical activity levels indirectly. Notably, these indirect influences manifested differently or even oppositely across participants with varying responses to weather. These findings support the hypothesis of heterogeneity in individuals' seasonal depression variations and responses to weather, underscoring the necessity for personalized approaches in depression management and treatment.",

author = "{RADAR-CNS Consortium} and Yuezhou Zhang and Folarin, {Amos A} and Yatharth Ranjan and Nicholas Cummins and Zulqarnain Rashid and Pauline Conde and Callum Stewart and Shaoxiong Sun and Srinivasan Vairavan and Faith Matcham and Carolin Oetzmann and Sara Siddi and Femke Lamers and Sara Simblett and Til Wykes and Mohr, {David C} and Haro, {Josep Maria} and Penninx, {Brenda W J H} and Narayan, {Vaibhav A} and Matthew Hotopf and Dobson, {Richard J B} and Abhishek Pratap",

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doi = "10.1038/s44184-025-00125-x",

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AU - RADAR-CNS Consortium

AU - Zhang, Yuezhou

AU - Folarin, Amos A

AU - Ranjan, Yatharth

AU - Cummins, Nicholas

AU - Rashid, Zulqarnain

AU - Conde, Pauline

AU - Stewart, Callum

AU - Sun, Shaoxiong

AU - Vairavan, Srinivasan

AU - Matcham, Faith

AU - Oetzmann, Carolin

AU - Siddi, Sara

AU - Lamers, Femke

AU - Simblett, Sara

AU - Wykes, Til

AU - Mohr, David C

AU - Haro, Josep Maria

AU - Penninx, Brenda W J H

AU - Narayan, Vaibhav A

AU - Hotopf, Matthew

AU - Dobson, Richard J B

AU - Pratap, Abhishek

PY - 2025/4/18

Y1 - 2025/4/18

N2 - Seasonal and weather changes can significantly impact depression severity, yet findings remain inconsistent across populations. This study explored depression variations across the seasons and the interplays between weather changes, physical activity, and depression severity among 428 participants in a real-world longitudinal mobile health study. Clustering analysis identified four participant subgroups with distinct patterns of depression severity variations in 1 year. While one subgroup showed stable depression levels throughout the year, others peaked at various seasons. The subgroup with stable depression had older participants with lower baseline depression severity. Mediation analysis revealed temperature and day length significantly influenced depression severity, which in turn impacted physical activity levels indirectly. Notably, these indirect influences manifested differently or even oppositely across participants with varying responses to weather. These findings support the hypothesis of heterogeneity in individuals' seasonal depression variations and responses to weather, underscoring the necessity for personalized approaches in depression management and treatment.

AB - Seasonal and weather changes can significantly impact depression severity, yet findings remain inconsistent across populations. This study explored depression variations across the seasons and the interplays between weather changes, physical activity, and depression severity among 428 participants in a real-world longitudinal mobile health study. Clustering analysis identified four participant subgroups with distinct patterns of depression severity variations in 1 year. While one subgroup showed stable depression levels throughout the year, others peaked at various seasons. The subgroup with stable depression had older participants with lower baseline depression severity. Mediation analysis revealed temperature and day length significantly influenced depression severity, which in turn impacted physical activity levels indirectly. Notably, these indirect influences manifested differently or even oppositely across participants with varying responses to weather. These findings support the hypothesis of heterogeneity in individuals' seasonal depression variations and responses to weather, underscoring the necessity for personalized approaches in depression management and treatment.

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DO - 10.1038/s44184-025-00125-x

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SN - 2731-4251

VL - 4

SP - 11

JO - NPJ Mental Health Research

JF - NPJ Mental Health Research

IS - 1

ER -

Assessing seasonal and weather effects on depression and physical activity using mobile health data

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