Time for Reflection: How Daylight Saving Time Impacts Mental Health

This past Sunday, March 10th, our clocks sprung forward once again as we embarked on another round of daylight savings. While an extra hour of evening light may be enticing to the untrained eye, there is a darker side. This blog explores the ways in which Daylight Saving Time affects mental health by drawing on empirical evidence and theoretical frameworks.

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a practice where clocks are adjusted forward by one hour during the spring and set back by one hour in the fall. The rationale behind DST has been primarily to promote energy conservation by extending daylight hours for various societal activities. However, beyond its intended purposes, DST has been associated with various impacts on human health and well-being. Among these impacts, the effects on mental health have garnered significant attention.

One of the primary mechanisms through which DST affects mental health is by disrupting the body's circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm regulates the sleep-wake cycle, hormone secretion, and other physiological processes. When clocks are adjusted abruptly during DST transitions, individuals may experience disturbances in their sleep patterns and circadian rhythms (Kantermann, 2019). This disruption can lead to fatigue, irritability, and mood disturbances, ultimately affecting mental well-being. Furthermore, research suggests that the shift in daylight exposure can disrupt the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles (Wyatt et al., 2019). Consequently, individuals may experience difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep quality during the transition periods associated with DST. Chronic sleep disturbances have been linked to increased risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders (Baglioni et al., 2016).

Daylight Saving Time transitions, particularly the shift to shorter days during fall and winter, can exacerbate symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a subtype of depression characterized by recurrent episodes of depressive symptoms during specific seasons, typically in the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter (Rosenthal et al., 2019). The reduction in daylight exposure following the end of DST in the fall can intensify feelings of lethargy, sadness, and social withdrawal among individuals predisposed to SAD, thereby impacting their mental health adversely.

The abrupt change in time during DST transitions can also disrupt individuals' daily routines and schedules. Disruptions in routine activities such as meal times, exercise regimens, and work schedules can lead to increased stress and anxiety (Reinberg & Ashkenazi, 2019). These disruptions can further compound existing mental health challenges and contribute to feelings of disorientation and malaise during DST transitions.

In addition to individual-level impacts, DST can also influence mental health on a more macro level through broader economic and social mechanisms. Studies have shown that the loss of daylight hours during the fall and winter months can impact productivity, increase absenteeism, and contribute to workplace accidents on a larger scale (Chmura et al., 2019). Economic stressors and workplace challenges stemming from DST transitions can exacerbate mental health issues among affected individuals and communities.

Daylight Saving Time has multifaceted effects on mental health, ranging from disruptions in circadian rhythms and sleep patterns to exacerbation of seasonal affective disorder and stress-related consequences. The abrupt shifts in time during DST transitions can disturb individuals' biological clocks and daily routines, leading to adverse mental health outcomes. Recognizing the mental health implications of DST is crucial for policymakers, healthcare

professionals, and individuals alike. Perhaps most importantly, the research studies outlined above should serve as a reminder that if you’re feeling a bit blue during this time of year, you are not alone and it’s not your fault. Side effects from DST are no joke, so treat yourself with a bit more kindness while we ride out this wave post-clock adjustments.

References

Baglioni, C., Nanovska, S., Regen, W., Spiegelhalder, K., Feige, B., Nissen, C., & Riemann, D. (2016). Sleep and mental disorders: A meta-analysis of polysomnographic research. Psychological Bulletin, 142(9), 969–990.

Chmura, T., Dąbrowski, M., & Osica, O. (2019). The impact of Daylight Saving Time on social behavior: Evidence from the UK and Germany. Royal Society Open Science, 6(6), 182116.

Kantermann, T. (2019). Circadian clock, sleep, and daytime functioning in neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 14(2), 177–184.

Reinberg, A., & Ashkenazi, I. (2019). Do daylight saving time transitions affect sleep and circadian rhythms? Sleep Medicine, 60, 12–22.

Rosenthal, N. E., Sack, D. A., Gillin, J. C., Lewy, A. J., Goodwin, F. K., Davenport, Y., ... & Wehr, T. A. (2019). Seasonal affective disorder: A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy. Archives of General Psychiatry, 41(1), 72–80.

Wyatt, J. K., Ritz-De Cecco, A., Czeisler, C. A., & Dijk, D. J. (2019). Circadian temperature and melatonin rhythms, sleep, and neurobehavioral function in humans living on a 20-h day. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology