A study conducted by Washington State University found that people’s emotional responses to heat are highly individualized, with age being the only factor that moderated it. Older adults on average became more uncomfortable in high heat more quickly than younger adults, but it did not affect their mood as much. The study aimed to understand why high outside temperatures are associated with increases in violent crime and mental health hospital admissions, a connection that has long been noted by scientists.
The researchers recruited about 400 participants in the Chicago area who used an app to report levels of comfort and emotional states while outside during the summer of 2022. They used geolocation to determine the actual temperature at the time and place when the participants logged their self-reports. The study found no direct connection between the actual temperature outside and people’s emotional states. Perceived temperature, or how hot they felt it was, was more important, but even then, it depended on the individual whether the temperature caused discomfort leading to a negative mood.
Despite the variability in thermal discomfort, the study suggested that for some people, there is a strong relationship between heat and negative affect working through discomfort. Younger adults especially were found to have a higher association between thermal discomfort and negative emotional states. This could potentially lead to aggressive behavior as there is a known link between being in an angry emotional state and acting out aggressively. The study also found that older adults in general have worse thermoregulation, making them more vulnerable to heat.
The researchers found that older adults displayed low levels of negative emotional states, even though they experienced more discomfort in the heat. While the exact reason for this difference could not be pinpointed from the study, other research on personality traits across the lifespan has found that emotional stability tends to increase with age. It was also noted that some individuals were able to handle extreme temperatures well, feeling good even on 100-degree days. The researchers suggested that it would be difficult to link objective temperature to individual psychological experiences and behaviors without directly measuring them.
In conclusion, the study highlighted the individualized nature of people’s emotional responses to heat and how age can moderate these responses. The researchers emphasized the importance of understanding these connections to better address issues related to violent crime and mental health during hot weather conditions. Further research is needed to explore the emotional response to heat in a laboratory setting and to determine the implications for public health and safety. The study was supported by the National Science Foundation and NASA and included researchers from various institutions such as the University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and the Argonne National Laboratory.