A new study has revealed that the season one is born has a significant impact on their risk of developing mood disorders, as it has been found that those in the winter were significantly less prone to irritable temperament than those born at other times of the year.
According to the study, people born at certain times of year may have a greater chance of developing certain types of affective temperaments, which in turn can lead to mood disorders (affective disorders).
The study found that cyclothymic temperament (characterized by rapid, frequent swings between sad and cheerful moods), is significantly higher in those born in the summer, in comparison with those born in the winter, while hyperthymic temperament - a tendency to be excessively positive - were significantly higher in those born in spring and summer.
The researchers also revealed that those born in autumn show a significantly lower tendency to depressive temperament than those born in winter.
Lead researcher, Assistant Professor Xenia Gonda, said that biochemical studies have shown that the season in which you are born has an influence on certain monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which is detectable even in adult life.
Xenia added that this led them to believe that birth season may have a longer-lasting effect. Our work looked at over 400 subjects and matched their birth season to personality types in later life. Basically, it seems that when you are born may increase or decrease your chance of developing certain mood disorders.