This semester’s weather has been mild compared to last year. Pace has not had any snow days or delays related to snow. Despite the better weather, the winter weather can cause season affective disorder (SAD), where members of the Pace community may find themselves showing more signs of depression.

Or so psychologists thought.

A new study published this semester by the Clinical Psychological Science Journal from the Association of Psychological Science reports that there is not sufficient evidence to prove SAD really exists.

The SAD research team surveyed more than 30,000 adults in the United States in 2006 through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual mental health survey. The authors reported that depression itself is naturally episodic, so depressed episodes during the winter is not necessarily due to winter.

SAD can be thought of as more of a correlation than causation between weather and depression.

“The findings cast doubt on major depression with seasonal variation as a legitimate psychiatric disorder,” study author and psychology professor at Auburn University Steven LoBello said.

Some symptoms of SAD are feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness, hopelessness, guilt, helplessness, difficulty of sleeping, oversleeping, decreased energy, and increased fatigue, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Most frequently, SAD occurs during winter months when there is less sunlight.

Logically, SAD makes sense. Less sun and frequent cold weather means staying inside more and the light in the day does not coordinate necessarily with the time. Before the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), many people already believed in SAD, though it did not necessarily go by the name SAD.

For students who may believe that they suffer from SAD, happy days are here again because Daylight Saving Time begins again this month on the 13. With the hope of longer days of light, students can try activities like exercising or crafting to fight SAD symptoms.

If any Pace student or faculty feels depressed or has any other mental health concerns, he or she can visit the Counseling Center weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call to book at appointment at (914) 773-3639.