Exploring Gender Differences in Seasonal Affective Depression in the Context of Climate Change

Abstract

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a recurrent subtype of depression associated with seasonal shifts, particularly reduced daylight during autumn and winter. Although gender differences in depression are widely documented, comparatively less attention has been given to how changing climatic patterns affect these gender disparities. Climate change—manifesting through rising temperature variability, altered seasonal transitions, and irregular sunlight exposure—may intensify or reshape SAD symptoms. This paper examines gender-specific vulnerability, symptom expression, and psychosocial pathways linking climate-related seasonal changes to depressive outcomes. Drawing from biopsychosocial and climate-psychology frameworks, this analysis integrates empirical findings and conceptual arguments to show how women and men experience seasonal depression differently, while also acknowledging emerging evidence on nonbinary individuals who remain understudied. The findings suggest that women exhibit higher SAD prevalence and symptom severity, while men show distinct behavioural responses. Climate change appears to magnify these disparities through circadian disruption, stress exposure, and socioeconomic pressures. Implications include the need for gender-responsive mental-health interventions, climate-informed screening tools, and policy measures addressing environmental determinants of mood disorders. The purpose of this paper is to explore how gender differences in seasonal depression intersect with climate-related environmental changes. Through a review of empirical research and conceptual models along with an experimental study on 200 adults, this paper examines biological, psychological, and social pathways that contribute to gender-differentiated vulnerability to SAD within a changing climate.