Irritability

Heat blanketed Chicago during the summer of 2022, with hot, sticky days followed by sweltering nights.

In the nation’s third-largest metro area, about 400 residents tracked their moods during a summer when temperatures hit 100 degrees by mid-June. Were they feeling cranky? Acting impulsively? Lashing out verbally? Yes, yes, and yes, according to survey results.

When people were uncomfortably hot in their homes, they reported increases in impulsive behavior. In neighborhoods with lower-income households and less tree canopy, residents also noticed being easily angered and verbally aggressive.

The research was conducted by Kimberly Meidenbauer, an assistant professor in Washington … » More …