Heat waves have historically driven Americans outdoors for relief, but air conditioning's rise since the 1960s has shifted this trend towards staying indoors. As climate change intensifies summer heat, cities experience an average temperature increase of 2.6 degrees over 50 years. Many individuals are now confined indoors, impacting their socialization and mental health. Therapists note that feelings of depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are common among those affected by the heat and limited outdoor activities, highlighting the psychological toll of extreme temperatures.
"In cities across the country, summers are, on average, 2.6 degrees hotter than they were some 50 years ago."
"Josef A. Von Isser, a therapist in Tucson, Arizona, told me that feeling low in the summer comes up a lot with his clients."
"For the convenience of air conditioning, Americans sacrifice the benefits of sunshine and the opportunities for fun it creates."
Collection
[
|
...
]