Warmer and darker climate: Effects on mental health and health behaviors (CLIMENT)

Climate change has increased temperatures in Scandinavian countries. Changes in winter temperatures have caused increased rainfall and decreased snowfall.

Moreover, increased cloudiness has reduced the amount of solar radiation reducing the daylight exposure in already dark winters.

Potential mental health effects of climate change have been stressed recently, however, the effects of reduced daylight during winter months on mental health have not been studied in Sweden.

This project will fill these gaps in evidence by using cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort data on health and health behaviors that will be linked to meteorological variables, i.e. solar radiation, precipitation and cloudiness at municipality level.

We aim first to examine associations between seasonal variation in daylight intensity, i.e., solar radiation and mental health, sickness absence, and health-related behaviors.

Second, we will assess the impact of temperature/thermal comfort on mental health, sickness absence, and health-related behaviors.

Third, we will investigate the influence of biological and socioeconomic vulnerabilities linked to the observed associations.

The outcomes of the analyses on the vulnerability to climate related impacts in Swedish and Finnish populations will help foster equality in both societies and will highlight equality prospects of climate change.