Affective Temperaments and Meteoropathy Among Women: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to assess the relationship between affective temperaments and meteoropathy among women and examine meteorosensitivity as a mediator in this relationship. The issue of affective temperaments and meteoropathy has not been considered in the literature. The sample consisted of 450 Caucasian women gathered via the online recruitment platform. The participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 70 years (M = 30.01; SD = 9.10). The Polish version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire was used to assess affective temperaments (depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable and anxious). Meteorosensitivity and meteoropathy were assessed using the Polish adaptation of the METEO-Q questionnaire. A large positive correlation was found between meteorosensitivity and meteoropathy. Medium positive correlations were found between meteorosensitivity/meteoropathy and cyclothymic and anxious temperaments. Small positive correlations were revealed between depressive and irritable temperaments and both meteorosensitivity and meteoropathy scales. No correlation was found between hyperthymic temperament and meteorosensitivity/meteoropathy. Mediation analyses indicated cyclothymic and anxious temperaments affected meteoropathy both directly and indirectly through meteorosensitivity as a mediator. The most severe meteoropathy symptoms in the studied sample were asthenia, an indefinite feeling of malaise and irritability. The results suggest affective temperaments may be related to meteoropathy symptoms in women.