by Triston Wong
Introduction
In the late afternoon following a busy school week, a man slipped on a pair of headphones while studying at his desk. The windows create a soft sound of pitter-patter which is easily heard in the background. On the other side of the country, a rugby player and her team get frustrated at the sudden weather change. They were forced to leave the field they were practicing on and went indoors.
If you ask different people about their opinion on rain, you will likely get two responses. Some will describe it as something pleasant that soothes their nerves, while others will say it makes them moody and ruins their day. Although these opinions can vary from the daily activities people participate in, there is also a plenitude of scientific evidence that may explain why people may feel this way.
(Zrnzervić, 2017)
Chemical Signals
One piece of evidence that portrays the impact of rain is how the body reacts under its effects. The first sign of change is the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that can cause numerous reactions. The less sunlight one is exposed to, the more serotonin one receives. Though it is commonly known as a mood stabilizer, serotonin can also impact your hunger and how much you eat. In an article published under the Guardian, it is said that when serotonin levels decrease overtime (from the rain), it can result in higher carbohydrate cravings that can, in turn, make you hungry.
A similar effect can be seen in melatonin, another hormone. Similar to serotonin, melatonin is directly correlated to the amount of sunlight one is exposed to. Less exposure leads to more melatonin, which is most commonly produced at night to encourage sleep, but likewise effects can occur under heavy rainfall.
In more extreme cases, this could lead to the development of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. By scientific definition, SAD is connected to the amount of melatonin the body is exposed to under the effects of the weather, where you often feel more sleepy. This often occurs in the winter, where the planet meets less contact with sunlight because it orbits further away from the sun. However, this may also occur as more rainfall increases within an environment, in which one may be more depressed and wish to stay indoors. All of these chemical reactions often occur when it rains in daily life.
Physical Reactions
While rain may trigger a number of different hormonal changes within a person, some may also find an immediate change of atmosphere the moment they step outside. One example of this phenomenon is how rain may reduce the amount of allergies that one may have from pollen. Less pollen is circulated within the environment as moisture from precipitation weighs it down, which can make someone’s outdoor experience slightly more enjoyable.
And while rain may make the outside more pleasant, it is also reported to help others focus. In a research article published by Harvard University, rainy days often reduced the amount of distractions one faces while in study. Students were asked to write answers to a given spreadsheet, and were explicitly reminded of the current weather. The final result concluded that those who performed the best were ones who took the test under a rainy day. One theory, some suggest, is that this is caused by a “pink effect” that the pitter patter of rain produces from windows. It is thought to be a calming effect that helps one focus.
(Jain, 2017.)
However, there is contradictory evidence that goes against this argument. In a 1997 research paper from Utah State University, teachers report the behavior of their students—grades one through five—and how the weather affects their mood. Along with a plethora of data, including how females were more influenced by the weather than males, they conclude how children behaved more poorly under the rain. It was stated that it was from the “barometric pressure” that lowered in the rain; the lowering pressure in the atmosphere, leading to increased blood pressure and irritability.
While it is difficult to argue between either point over the other, it is only suggestive of the fact that anyone could be affected by the rain in any manner; positively or negatively, and is a matter of environment and cognitive behavior.
Personal Preference
Though there is evidence that suggests the positive effects of rain, it does not necessarily mean every individual appreciates it. Anecdotally, many people dislike the rain when it interferes with the daily activities that they have. A common example is having to walk home with water getting into your socks. However there is also data that suggests it is also because of the sunlight exposure that benefits them.
In a study found from the British Journal of Psychology, 11 days worth of data were recorded on how weather-related variables related to different moods amongst males. From the data, they found that the humidity, temperature, and the amount of hours spent in the sun were the biggest impactors of someone’s mood; “Rising temperatures lowered anxiety and scepticism mood scores.”
Closing Note
Though the rain can be an inconvenience throughout our daily lives and affect us from time to time, in the end, it is simply another natural element of nature that we live alongside. From anecdotal experience, I personally enjoy the rain. Listening to music with the pitter patter of water droplets against my window helps me study, and I often do not mind getting too wet under the rain as long as I don’t have anything of importance on me. Though, that may just be because I strongly dislike the humidity in Singapore.
Petrichor
noun • pet.rɪ.kɔːr
“The smell produced when rain falls on dry ground, usually experienced as being pleasant”
("petrichor", 2022)
References
PDF:
Dabb, C. (2021). The Relationship Between Weather and Children's Behavior: A Study of Teacher Perceptions. DigitalCommons@USU. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3651&context=etd.
Articles/Website:
Flook, J. (2019). Can't stand the rain? How wet weather affects human behaviour. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2019/mar/06/cant-stand-the-rain-how-wet-weather-affects-human-behaviour.
Howarth, E. (1984). A multidimensional approach to the relationship between mood and weather. The British Psychological Society. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1984.tb02785.x.
Nobel, C. (2012). Blue Skies, Distractions Arise: How Weather Affects Productivity. HBS Working Knowledge. https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/blue-skies-distractions-arise-how-weather-affects-productivity.
Lam, L. (2021). How Weather Impacts Spring Allergies | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com. The Weather Channel. https://weather.com/health/allergy/news/how-weather-impacts-spring-allergies.
petrichor. Dictionary.cambridge.org. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/petrichor.
Pictures:
Zrnzervić, F. (2017). Rainy road path amongst green trees [Image]. https://unsplash.com/photos/_EMkxLdko9k.
Jain, A. (2017). Rain droplets from the early morning of San Francisco [Image]. https://unsplash.com/photos/Bu1zj2WbjHE.
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