Abstract
Continuous exposure to a wide spectrum of natural light has constructive impacts to not only one’s health but also their moods. The production of hormones such as serotonin and melatonin based on the intensity of light has a large impact on the distribution of an individual’s emotions. This study seeks to validate the role of sunlight in the distribution of a person’s mood and whether a lack thereof has a negative impact on their emotional balance. The paper utilizes similar researches conducted on this issue to establish an argument about the constructive impacts of sunlight on one’s moods. It also highlights the drawbacks of being exposed to a poorly lit environment away from natural light.
Having the right mood and composure is essential to the maintenance of proper health to an individual. In fact, lack thereof compromises one’s chances of being healthy due to the deprivation of constructive emotion or pleasure. With this in mind, it is worth acknowledging the fact that the sun has an undisputed role in one’s moods. Precisely, individuals with the right exposure to sunlight in their daily activities have a higher likelihood of being happier than those who lack this environment. From a scientific perspective, neurons associated with the production of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin that are generic neurotransmitters associated with emotion, cognition and pleasure are positively impacted by the exposure to a right amount of sunlight. In fact, the Journal of personality and social psychology argues that lack thereof makes these neurotransmitters lesser active and the individual involved is more susceptible to depression and other emotion-related complications (Lucas and Nicole 872). This paper seeks to validate the role of the sun in a person’s mood. It utilizes scholarly sources to provide a rationale for the contribution of sunlight to one’s happiness or a lack of it. For a fact, continual exposure to sunlight enhances the production of emotion related hormones such as serotonin that constructively impact one’s mood and lack thereof negatively affects one’s feelings.
When the human body is exposed to sunlight, the brain heightens the secretion of serotonin thereby elevating one’s mood. According to Kämpfer and Michael (582), understanding this phenomenon requires one to appreciate the connection between sunlight, serotonin, and melatonin. Melatonin hormone actively controls sleep while serotonin is a neurotransmitter associated with states of weakness and being in the good mood. Lower concentrations of the latter make one depressed and more susceptible to having a bad mood. This situation is largely accredited to the fact that the hormones associated with boosting one’s ambiance are in short supply making it more challenging for a person to be lively. As such, having little or no exposure to sunlight makes an individual lesser likely to have a happier face as opposed to those in a sunny environment. Schmiedeberg and Jette (394) argue that people with high concentrations of serotonin feel calmer and focused than those with little or no sunlight exposure. When a person spends a larger section of the day in a poorly lit environment, and away from sunlight, the secretion of melatonin is heightened making them feel fatigued and lesser engaging. As a result, these individuals are gloomy and lesser likely to maintain good relations with other people, and this leads to depression. Consequently, sunlight has a constructive impact on one‘s moods.
Continuous exposure to sunlight enhances the performance of neurons that produce dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin thereby increasing emotion and pleasure. According to the Social indicators research, the optimal performance of these neurons and the associated neurotransmitters is best achieved in the presence of sunlight (Schmiedeberg and Jette 389). Lack thereof jeopardizes their operation, therefore, affecting one’s mood. In a study conducted to validate the effect of sunlight exposure to human beings, neuroscientists kept rats in a poorly lit environment for six weeks. Away from the presence of sunlight during this period, the animals exhibited some depressive behaviors associated with mood imbalance. Additionally, it was determined that these organisms suffered brain damage in some regions that are known to be underactive in a human being. From this study, one can validate that a similar result is experienced when people are deficient of the fundamental role played by the sun in balancing their moods. Specifically, the neural death of the organs secreting the hormones mentioned above makes it challenging for the people affected to maintain a normal lifestyle. The longer exposure to darkness causes seasonal affective disorders (SAD) that make one’s moods lesser predictable. As such, these individuals are more likely to suffer from depression or other emotion related complications due to the lack of sunlight exposure. Consequently, sunlight has a constructive impact on our moods.
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Consistent contact with sunlight minimizes the chances of developing seasonal affective disorder thereby heightening one’s moods. According to Scott (12), the development of this medical complication is mainly encountered during the winter season in the United States and other locations experiencing the four main seasons. In fact, most of the people affected by this medical complication have a relatively lower self-esteem as opposed to the healthy individuals. With this information in mind, it is essential noting that the exposure to sunlight minimizes the possibility of developing this complication. This situation is largely accredited to the fact that the inadequate supply of serotonin within the body compromises one’s mood balance. As such, these individuals are more likely to experience cases of depression thereby enhancing the chances of getting SAD. However, in the presence of sufficient sunlight, the adequate supply of serotonin enhances the stability of one’s mood by stimulating feelings associated with happiness and pleasure. The likelihood of experiencing stress related complication is lesser likely as the individual feels livelier than he or she would have in a dull season. As such, the presence of sunlight greatly influences one’s mood in a constructive way.
Sunlight enhances the production of vitamin D, which is essential to the controlling of one’s mood. Because the skin can synthesize vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, the presence of this component in the human body improves how an individual controls their emotions. According to the Journal of personality and social psychology, synthesis of vitamin D by the skin upon the exposure to sunlight is beneficial to the human body as it creates an antidepressant effect on an individual (Lucas and Nicole 872). Simply, when one is constantly exposed to sunlight and their bodies continually synthesize the required amounts of vitamin D, they are lesser likely to suffer from emotional imbalance. Scott (12) argues that there is a close association between sufficient quantities of vitamin D and one’s emotions. In a study conducted to determine the value of this nutrient, it was determined that a large section of the elderly population with a deficiency of this nutrient regularly suffered from depression, and they were unable to control their moods. On the other hand, individuals with long-term exposure to sunlight during daily activities secrete appropriate amounts of serotonin during the day to stimulate their jovial emotions. On the contrary, individuals lacking this exposure have higher levels of melatonin, which is known to cause fatigue and emotional imbalance. Therefore, sunlight has a constructive impact on a person’s emotions.
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Exposure to sunlight leads to balanced secretion of melatonin and serotonin. When a person lacks a consistent exposure to the visible light spectrum, it becomes challenging for their bodies to regulate the level of these hormones. As such, an imbalance in the way an individual feels occurs and this situation has a negative impact on their mood. In a research conducted to validate the importance of having a normal work and sleep pattern, it was determined that individuals who worked during the day and rested after sundown were observed to be more jovial than those who worked as night. In fact, Böcker, Martin and Jan (87) argue that not getting enough sunlight during the day and spending a longer time in darkness affects the serotonin and melatonin rhythms. In such cases, the individuals are fatigued even when they are supposed to be at their optimal working condition. Similarly, a negative impact is experienced in how they regulate their moods due to the lack of serotonin responsible for the regulation of emotions. As such, one can determine that the absence of sunlight has a tremendous impact on the feelings of an individual. Precisely, consistent exposure to the rays of the sun has a constructive impact on one’s moods while a lack thereof compromises one’s feelings.
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Sunlight is a source of natural light, which is essential to the regulation of body hormones triggering emotions. In a study conducted to verify the impact of sunlight on the health of an individual, it was determined that the implications of the sun on the human body is relatively more constructive to artificial lighting. In fact, too much exposure to the limited spectrum of indoor lighting or other forms of related under exposure to natural light is closely associated with medical complications such as reduced immune function and fatigue (Kämpfer and Michael 582). The latter has a large impact on how people handle their emotions. According to Schmiedeberg and Jette (389), being fatigued leads one into feeling emotionally depressed and gloomy. When this happens, the possibility of being happy is mostly limited due to the inadequacy of the emotion control hormone, serotonin. Additionally, the overall activeness of the brain is limited, and this inhibits the abilities of the affected individuals to hold long conversations. Minimal interaction with other persons ascertains the fact that the absence of sunlight has an adverse impact on the emotions of a person. Finally, the fact that higher levels of natural light enhance the synthesis of vitamin D that aids in the maintenance of optimal levels of serotonin affirm the role of sunlight in the maintenance of a good mood. For a fact, sunlight is influential to the distribution of one’s emotions.
Longer exposure to a full spectrum of sunlight is essential since the excess amount of serotonin produced can be converted to melatonin thereby enhancing sleep. When one has a productive day and a peaceful night sleep, the possibilities of being happy and healthier than individuals lacking this form of exposure is heightened. As a result, these individuals are bound to be happier than those experiencing the opposite environment. According to Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, the skin has the ability to convert serotonin to melatonin but it cannot reconvert the latter to the former (Scott 12). Consequently, it is essential for individuals to be exposed to a well-lit environment as this form of exposure has more constructive impacts as opposed to a poorly lit atmosphere. Getting used to such an environment has valuable consequences to not only the betterment of one’s health but also the distribution of one’s emotions. Additionally, an individual is more likely to be open and focused if they are exposed to longer hours of natural light. In a study conducted to validate the impacts of being in a well-lit environment, it was determined that individuals exposed to more extended hours of daylight had a higher likelihood of being healthier than those in a lacking environment. These findings affirm this paper’s initial claim about the constructive impact of sunlight on the betterment of one’s health.
In conclusion, sunlight plays a tremendous role in the regulation of an individual’s mood. Neurons associated with the production of serotonin are stimulated with the presence of a broad spectrum of natural light. This hormone is responsible for the regulation of one’s emotions and can, therefore, lead to the development of happiness or lack thereof. The secretion of vitamin D done by the skin aids in the steady maintenance of this hormone implying that the individuals exposed to a longer sun period has a higher likelihood of maintaining good moods. The lack of sunlight equally exposes one to the threats of having emotional disorders. This situation is largely accredited to the fact that melatonin is secreted in the absence of natural light. Owing to the fact that this hormone plays a significant role in the regulation of sleep, it is associated with fatigue and imbalanced emotions. Consequently, individuals lacking exposure to a wider spectrum of natural lighting are more likely to produce larger concentrations of this hormone, therefore, affecting their moods in a negative way. As a result, one is justified to claim that the role of sunlight in the regulation of moods is undisputed. Therefore, continual exposure to sunlight enhances the production of emotion related hormones such as serotonin that constructively impact one’s mood and lack thereof negatively affects one’s feelings.
Works Cited
Böcker, Lars, Martin Dijst, and Jan Prillwitz. "Impact of everyday weather on individual daily travel behaviours in perspective: a literature review." Transport reviews 33.1 (2013): 71-91.
Kämpfer, Sylvia, and Michael Mutz. "On the sunny side of life: Sunshine effects on life satisfaction." Social Indicators Research 110.2 (2013): 579-595.
Lucas, Richard E., and Nicole M. Lawless. "Does life seem better on a sunny day? Examining the association between daily weather conditions and life satisfaction judgments." Journal of personality and social psychology 104.5 (2013): 872.
Schmiedeberg, Claudia, and Jette Schröder. "Does Weather Really Influence the Measurement of Life Satisfaction?." Social indicators research 117.2 (2014): 387-399.
Scott, Jamie M. "The Impact of Weather Conditions on Mood Variability in Geographically Relocated Versus Non-Relocated Individuals." Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato 7.1 (2014): 12.
