Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

Correlations Between Temperature Exposure and Mental Disorders: A Global Ecological Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Maleki 1
Mohebat Vali 2
Hossein-Ali Nikbakht 3
Ali Keshavarz 4
Fatemeh Rezaei chegini 5
Mehdi Miri 6
Mohammad Reza Nayeb 6
Haleh Ghaem 7

1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran

2 Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute & Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

4 Department of Nutrition, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

5 Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

6 Student Research Committee, Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

7 Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/jhsss.2025.104281.1984
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have presented inconsistent findings regarding the association between ambient temperature and mental disorders. This study was conducted to systematically 
investigate the correlation between temperature variations and the prevalence of mental disorders on a global scale.
Methods: This ecological study extracted data on temperature and mental disorders for 204 countries from the Global Burden of Disease website. Correlation analyses between these variables were performed using SPSS version 22.
Results: Our findings revealed that anxiety disorders were least prevalent in Japan and most prevalent in Mexico City. A significant positive correlation was observed between average annual 
temperature (r=0.226, p ≤0.001) and low-temperature exposure (r=0.126, p ≤0.001) with anxiety disorders. Furthermore, average annual temperature (r=0.137, p=0.018) and low-temperature 
exposure (r=0.057, p=0.024) were positively and significantly correlated with major depressive disorder. Singapore reported the lowest prevalence of mental disorders, while the United States reported the highest. A positive significant correlation was found between suicide rates and average annual temperature (r=0.226, p =0.030).
Conclusion: Elevated average annual temperatures were significantly correlated with an increase in major depressive disorders, while exposure to low temperatures was associated with a reduction in these disorders. These findings highlight the potential impact of climate on mental health and emphasize the need to implement effective public health strategies and provide accessible mental health services, especially in regions experiencing significant temperature fluctuations.

Keywords

High temperature
Low temperature
Major depressive disorder
Mental disorders
World
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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 135-152

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