We’ve all had days where the heat makes us a little cranky.
But a climate psycologist explains that heat can have a huge impact on your mental health.
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Its too hot to move and all you want to do is hop in a cold shower.
And theres a lot of evidence that peoplesmood is not as good.
Their ratings of happiness are lower.
Susan Clayton, PhD, is a professor of psychology and environmental studies, and is currently chair of the psychology department at the College of Wooster.
Dr. Clayton says science hasnt fully figured out the strong relationship between heat and mental health.
People are not as nice to each other, they tend to be more aggressive.
If youre not feeling as well you might be crankier, she says.
Typically, research defines too hot as higher than average temperatures.
Even in places that are naturally hotter people respond negatively when its hotter than usual.
Theres seems to be a maybe a certain degree of heat that you just dont really adapt to.
There are some impacts that can set in pretty quickly depending on hot it is, says Dr. Clayton.
This is why you have to yell at your children to come inside if its too cold.
And no matter how accustomed they are to it, people who work outside are more susceptible.
There are physical limits to what your body can take, says Dr. Clayton.
Youll want to find ways to stay cool bystaying hydratedandavoiding exercise outsidewhen its too hot, for example.
But Dr. Clayton says the work shouldnt stop there.
This is something cities need to be thinking about given that its going to get hotter and hotter.
Thats a longer-term solution.
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