July 9, 2025
Exposure to heat waves can be bound to depression in young people, researchers say

Exposure to heat waves can be bound to depression in young people, researchers say

Exposure to oppressive and often life -threatening heat waves was bound by an increased risk of depression and anxiety in young people.

Chinese researchers found that young men and rural students in the East Asian country could be most vulnerable, which indicates that targeted reaction strategies should be implemented.

“Our results emphasize the need to develop strategies for public health in order to protect students from the adverse effects of extreme warmth,” wrote the authors in a recently published research paper in the Journal of affective disorders.

The authors of the study were able to estimate the exposure to the heat waves by examining the health data of almost 20,000 young people between 10 and 18 years. The data was recorded by a national school -based health survey carried out in 2021. Of these were more than half of the young women and the majority of younger high school students who were 15 years old by 15 years.

Measured using a questionnaire and a scale, 19.37 percent and 16.27 percent of young people reported depression or anxiety.

Researchers say that exposure to heat waves is bound by an increased risk of depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents. The results build on previous studies that show similar effects in Madagascar (AFP via Getty Images),Researchers say that exposure to heat waves is bound by an increased risk of depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents. The results build on previous studies that show similar effects in Madagascar (AFP via Getty Images),

Researchers say that exposure to heat waves is bound by an increased risk of depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents. The results build on previous studies that show similar effects in Madagascar (AFP via Getty Images),

The heat inputs by the students were evaluated using three heat wave metrics: excess heat, maximum temperature and minimum temperature.

They found that it increases greater probability of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses for every unit. When using various definitions of heat waves, the results were not so consistent.

The study comes when heat waves become more frequent and more intensive due to the impact of the climate change caused by humans. The dangerous heat over the east coast of the United States this week has become between three and five times more likely, according to the non -profit climate in Central. Heat warnings were also issued in Beijing this week, reported the official English -language website of the China News Service.

Research released at the beginning of this year showed that the number of people with the physical crisis in the areas that are most affected by climate change increases. The authors said that young people in southern Madagascar reported an extremely high level of fear and depression. In a separate report, the authors said that the stress of climate change is also responsible for anxiety symptoms.

The effects of heat on mental health were also established, with hot weather disrupted hormones and disturbing the sleep and leading to changes in mood and behavior.

New York City and many large metros along the east coast felt the worst day of heat in a long time on Tuesday. The temperatures have destroyed records in the state of New York (AFP via Getty Images))New York City and many large metros along the east coast felt the worst day of heat in a long time on Tuesday. The temperatures have destroyed records in the state of New York (AFP via Getty Images))

New York City and many large metros along the east coast felt the worst day of heat in a long time on Tuesday. The temperatures have destroyed records in the state of New York (AFP via Getty Images))

Last summer, the American Psychological Association asked that political and infrastructure changes were carried out to protect mental health from the effects of high temperatures.

“The way we are going will only make things worse,” said Dr. Kim Meidenbauer, assistant professor of psychology at Washington State University, the association. “If we don’t even understand the scope of the effect on ourselves, this is bad for our ability to protect people from the negative psychological consequences.”

Yizhen Yu, co-author of the new study and professor at the Tongji Medical College of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, told Psypost The fact that their conclusions emphasize how important it is to recognize the well-being of young people in extreme climate events-and the need that political decision-makers and other attention must become aware of.

“The political decision -makers should integrate heat sensitivities into strategies for public health – for example by revising school safety protocols in heat waves. Ultimately, a sensible cooperation in terms of health, education and environment for the protection and promotion of mental health of young people is in the foreground of climate challenges,” he said.

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