As the first warm days of spring arrive, many people in German-speaking countries report feeling unusually tired and sluggish—a phenomenon known as "Frühjahrsmüdigkeit" or spring fatigue. But researchers from the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Bern in Switzerland say there is no empirical evidence to support its existence.

Psychologist and sleep researcher Christine Blume and her colleague Albrecht Vorster surveyed 418 participants online over a year starting in July 2024. Every six weeks, participants rated their exhaustion over the previous four weeks, daytime sleepiness, and sleep quality. The data covered all seasons.

Despite half of participants initially claiming to suffer from spring fatigue, the survey results showed no significant increase in fatigue during spring compared to other seasons. "We found that people are not measurably more fatigued or tired during spring than any other season," Blume told DW's Science Unscripted podcast.

Blume and Vorster conclude that spring fatigue is a cultural rather than biological phenomenon. "The word 'spring fatigue' exists and that allows people to describe how they feel," Blume said, adding that it shapes symptom perception and creates cognitive dissonance when sunny weather raises expectations of activity.

The study also found no link between spring fatigue and pollen allergies, hay fever, or antihistamine use. Similarly, no scientific evidence was found for winter fatigue. However, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and vitamin D deficiency, common in winter, can cause genuine tiredness.

Blume advises those feeling unusually tired to consult a doctor rather than dismissing it as seasonal fatigue.

Source: www.dw.com