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Summer is synonymous with sunshine, pool parties and many other moments of well-being. But it also brings with it sweltering heat, humidity and insect bites, to name just a few of its lesser-appreciated qualities. A sense of self-inflicted guilt can also accompany the summer months, if you don’t spend the season outdoors, enjoying every drop of laughter in the sun.
“Sun guilt” is TikTok’s most recent term taking center stage, described as a feeling of regret for not spending time outdoors or taking advantage of sunny weather and warmer temperatures. In fact, a Forbes Health survey of 2,000 U. S. adults found that only about a portion (48%) experience negative symptoms of intellectual fitness at some point during the summer, a percentage that rises even more among younger generations.
What’s more, Forbes Health research from three years of government experience shows which states report the highest rates of anxiety and depression among their citizens during the summer months, and other people in some parts of the country, such as the Southeast, are hit harder than others.
Read on to learn more about the scientific summer blues and expert tips on how to cope with it.
The Forbes Health team conducted an in-depth investigation of 3 years of insights from the Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey to expand our ranking of the states most likely to be hit by the summer blues. The attached survey, which reveals the prevalence and triggers of summer. sadness, commissioned through Forbes Health and conducted through Talker Research, a member of the Market Research Society and the American Association for Public Opinion Research. More main points can be discovered in our method below.
Key results
Negative symptoms of intellectual fitness in the warmer months are not unusual, according to the Forbes Health survey, with 48% of all respondents reporting negative symptoms of intellectual fitness at least at some point in the summer. The most common emotions were anxiety (42%), tension (40%), sleep disturbances (36%) and depression (35%).
Many TikTok videos explore this phenomenon, with others referring to it as “sun guilt,” referring to the unfortunate emotions that can come with the sunny season.
“Sun-like guilt can arise from reports from the early formative years, such as enjoying sunny weather and marking them as ‘special days,’ when must-have memories were formed,” says Sabrina Romanoff, Psy. D. , a trained clinical psychologist. at Harvard and Forbes Health. Board member Asesor. La society has a tendency to equate sunny weather with happiness, activity, and smart memories. Whether it’s marketing images, idealized movie scenes, or days at the beach, the sun inspires us to get outside and “soak up the sun. “
Losing that sun and choosing to stay home can lead to strong feelings of guilt and shame, she explains.
“Like skipping a workout or eating fast food, the lack of a sunny day can make other people feel guilty for making the ‘wrong’ decision for their fitness and well-being,” says Dr. Romanoff.
The Forbes Health survey shows that unpleasant emotions were more prevalent among younger generations: 65% of Generation Z and 66% of Millennials say they have at least infrequent negative intellectual symptoms during the summer months, compared to 51% of Generation X and 32% of Millennials. %. Baby boomers who said the same thing.
“The days are longer, the heat and humidity levels are higher, and many other people find hot weather oppressive,” says Dr. Romanoff, adding that expectations about what you think you deserve to do during the Summer months such as flying for an ocean vacation or a hike in a state park are not realistic. Plus, watching how friends spend their summers can add even more pressure.
In fact, the most common causes of intellectual fitness disorders in general, according to the survey, are heat and humidity (41%), monetary tension (39%), anxiety and concern about the body symbol (23%) and not going on vacation during the confinement period. watching others travel (20%).
“On a social level, because of media posts and information from our private social networks, we assume that most people enjoy the sun,” says Dr. Romanoff. “This could simply cause a sense of ‘disruption’ when our private tastes for staying and cashing out seem very divergent from those of the wider network. “
Research conducted by Forbes Health shows that symptoms of poor intellectual fitness during the summer are more prevalent in some parts of the country than others, and there’s an obvious trend.
Based on in-depth research of 3 years of knowledge about depression and anxiety levels in the summer months from the US Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, the 10 states most likely to be affected for negative feelings similar to intellectual fitness in the summer are as follows: follows:
This state had the highest percentage of others who felt depressed, depressed, or hopeless for at least part of the week (19%), the highest percentage of others who felt nervous, anxious, or nervous for at least part of the week (26%), and the highest percentage of those who could not cope with their worries for at least part of a week in summer (21%).
Citizens of this state scored highest among those who feel nervous, worried or on edge at least part of the week (24%) and those who are unable to cope with their worries (21%).
Magnolia State ranks first in the percentage of other people who report little interest or enthusiasm in doing things for at least part of the week in the summer (20%).
Another southern state, Louisiana, also ranks first in the percentage of people reporting a loss of interest in fun activities (19%), as well as a higher percentage of others who cannot cope with their worries for at least part of the week (21). %).
New Mexico, which ranks fourth along with Louisiana, has the second-highest percentage of people who report feeling depressed, depressed, or hopeless for at least part of the week during the summer months (18%).
Nevada ranked first when it comes to the percentage of people who feel down, depressed or hopeless for at least part of the week in the summer (18%).
Kentuckians increase their state’s score for negative symptoms of intellectual fitness during the summer months due to the higher percentage of other people who report feeling nervous, anxious, or nervous for at least part of the week (24%).
Another southern state that is part of our top 10 most sensitive states for the summer blues, Alabama citizens had a percentage of height of others who couldn’t cope with their worries (21%) and a percentage of height of those who reported a loss of interest in fun activities. (19%).
Meanwhile, tied with Alabama for eighth place, Arkansas citizens were most likely to report that they couldn’t help but worry during the summer months (20%), as well as feeling depressed or hopeless during at least part of the week (18 %).
Unlike our ranking of the most commonly southern states, Oregon ranks third for the highest percentage of other people who report feeling worried for at least part of the week (24%) in the summerArray.
This state had the highest rates of citizens reporting feeling nervous or worried for more than part of the week (24%), as well as feeling depressed, depressed or hopeless (17%).
Tennessee rounds out our ranking of states most likely to enjoy the summer blues, as this state had higher rates of other people reporting little interest or enthusiasm in doing things for more than part of the week (18%).
“[Many] of them are states historically known for their very long, hot summers with peak temperatures,” says Judy Ho, Ph. D. , a board-certified and board-certified clinical and forensic psychologist and member of the Forbes Health advisory board. “In warmer states, where the sun is abundant for much of the year, other people would possibly feel guilty that the weather is not at its maximum potential. At the same time, high temperatures can cause discomfort, fatigue, irritability, and aggression. in some (and this may mimic or even increase the threat of depression symptoms), possibly explaining, in part, the higher rates of sun guilt.
Dr. Romanoff also notes that the states most likely to experience negative intellectual fitness symptoms, such as Oklahoma, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and New Mexico, tend to be the ones that are on beautiful terrain but face challenging situations. incredibly difficult. Maximum temperatures in summer.
“It’s like being at Disneyworld and being able to enjoy the attractions just through the car window,” he says. “Proximity to mountains, bodies of water and beautiful spaces, without being able to use them due to high levels of heat, can worsen intellectual aptitude disorders in these places. “
It is to be left in the brain that sun guilt and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are not the same thing.
SAD is a diagnosis of intellectual aptitude known in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) with symptoms in addition to those of depression, adding low mood, adjustments in appetite and sleep, and loss of interest in activities pleasant It is related to adjustments in the circadian rhythm and in the brain, due to a change in sunlight hours.
Maximum SAD occasionally occurs in the colder months, when there are fewer hours of sunlight, but it is also imaginable to experience seasonal depression in the summer. Dr. Ho cites that SAD affects approximately 5% of Americans during the winter months, while approximately 1% suffer from it in the summer.
“[SAD is] different from sun guilt because it is a clinical condition in which the user reports significant clinical misery and/or notices that their symptoms are affecting their functioning in primary spaces of life such as work, relationships, and activities,” explains Dr. S. S. . Array “Sun guilt is a feeling that can be disturbing and stressful for the user, but not necessarily to the point of corresponding to a clinical condition. »
Experts recommend seeing an intellectual fitness professional if you suspect symptoms of SAD, as this condition can be managed with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.
Summer doesn’t have to be a sweaty season to know if you’re missing out on fun. Dr. Romanoff and Dr. Ho suggest the following coping methods if you experience emotions of sadness, guilt, or anxiety during the summer:
Add some design to your regimen. ” Summer is related to laziness or unwillingness,” says Dr. Ho. “Structure is really useful for intellectual fitness and also for reducing the negative effects of guilt and shame. Set a morning and evening regimen so you have anchors for each day that you can rely on and that are consistent. The patterns are very relaxing for your brain, and your brain craves those familiarities.
Set realistic expectations. Consider spraying some sun-related activities, although perhaps for short periods. “Go to a pool party, even if it’s just for an hour,” says Dr. Ho. “Take a short walk but not a longer one. ” And let the other people you spend time with know what your plans are ahead of time so you can set their expectations too.
Practice self-compassion and prioritize self-care. “Self-care is imperative to feeling good, and the more you deliberately take care of yourself, the less you will struggle with constant, persistent negative feelings,” says Dr. Ho. She cites six categories of self-care (practical, physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual), suggesting you should focus on one category throughout the day.
“Check in with yourself and identify what you want right now,” Dr. Romanoff adds. “Do you feel exhausted, exhausted from the heat, do you want more alone time to recharge?A day indoors may be just what your body craves. Learn to prioritize what makes you feel smart over what you think you do or what others stream online. Listening to your existing desires is one of the main vital signs that can guide your decisions.
To identify the states with the highest degrees of summer intellectual fitness deficiency symptoms, Forbes Health analyzed 3 years of insights from the United States Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey, recorded in the summer months. Forbes Health analyzed insights from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, analyzing the following Family Pulse Survey knowledge questions to create a summer sadness score for each state:
The accompanying online survey of 2,000 Americans in the general population commissioned through Forbes Health and conducted through market research firm Talker Research, in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct. Knowledge collected from June 10 to 14, 2024. The margin of error is ± 2. 2 questions with a confidence level of 95%. This survey was overseen through Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
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