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Temperature and self-reported mental health in the United States

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  • Mengyao Li
  • Susana Ferreira
  • Travis A Smith

Abstract

This study estimates the association between temperature and self-reported mental health. We match individual-level mental health data for over three million Americans between 1993 and 2010 to historical daily weather information. We exploit the random fluctuations in temperature over time within counties to identify its effect on a 30-day measure of self-reported mental health. Compared to the temperature range of 60–70°F, cooler days in the past month reduce the probability of reporting days of bad mental health while hotter days increase this probability. We also find a salience effect: cooler days have an immediate effect, whereas hotter days tend to matter most after about 10 days. Using our estimates, we calculate the willingness to pay to avoid an additional hot day in terms of its impact on self-reported mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengyao Li & Susana Ferreira & Travis A Smith, 2020. "Temperature and self-reported mental health in the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0230316
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230316
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Trinh, Trong-Anh & Appau, Samuelson & Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Farrell, Lisa, 2022. "Temperature shocks and gambling," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    2. Yan Chen & Xiaohong Chen & Hongshan Ai & Xiaoqing Tan, 2022. "Temperature and Migration Intention: Evidence from the Unified National Graduate Entrance Examination in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Sanduijav, Chimedregzen & Ferreira, Susana & Filipski, Mateusz & Hashida, Yukiko, 2021. "Air pollution and happiness: Evidence from the coldest capital in the world," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    4. Yue Hua & Yun Qiu & Xiaoqing Tan, 2023. "The effects of temperature on mental health: evidence from China," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(3), pages 1293-1332, July.
    5. Dajung Jun & Matt Sutton, 2021. "Trends in Health Poverty in Australia, 2001-2018," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2021n25, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.

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