Seasonal changes in mood and creative activity among eminent Italian writers.

Publisher: SAGE Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0376475 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0033-2941 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00332941 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Psychol Rep Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2016- : Thousand Oaks, CA : SAGE
Original Publication: Louisville, Ky. : Southern Universities Press,

Creativity* ; Famous Persons* ; Literature* ; Seasons* ; Writing*; Seasonal Affective Disorder/*ethnology; Female ; Humans ; Italy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seasonal Affective Disorder/diagnosis ; Seasonal Affective Disorder/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A sample of 33 eminent Italian writers was studied. They were nominees of three of the most important literary Italian awards (Strega, Campiello, and Viareggio). The Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire was mailed to 105 writers during the period October 2003 and January 2004, of whom 39 replied. 33 (M age=54.5 yr., SD= 12.5; 8 women and 25 men) completed the questionnaire. Among respondents, spring and summer months showed highest ratings of "feel best." During the summer a decline in creativity was not significant; respondents also reported sleeping least. Scores on the Global Seasonality Score suggested writers appeared to show higher seasonal sensitivity than the general population. Seasonal changes were considered as a problem by a majority of them. Although writers showed high seasonal sensitivity, no significant relationship was found between the seasonal pattern of mood and self-reported creativity.

Date Created: 20080201 Date Completed: 20080227 Latest Revision: 20151119

20240628

10.2466/pr0.101.3.771-777

18232431