Emily Chan
In 2012, a team of researchers at Canada’s Université Laval’s School of Psychology decided to test the theory of the connection between mental illness and moon phases.
Between 2005 and 2008, they evaluated 771 patients who visited emergency rooms in two hospitals in Montreal.
The patients reported having chest pains, but doctors couldn’t figure out the cause behind them. Many of the patients had panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, or anxiety/mood disorders.
The researchers analyzed the time of the visits and the phases of the moon for any patterns. They discovered only one connection between psychological problems and the four lunar phases.
Apparently, anxiety disorders were 32 percent less frequent in the last lunar quarter. They noted that the finding may be coincidental. But either way, the moon did not appear to have an effect on human behavior.
Some studies have found that the full moon can affect sleep patterns. One study from 2021 found that people fell asleep later and slept less on the nights before a full moon.
A 2015 study that involved 205 participants showed that the full moon may affect sleep differently in males and females. Many males had more REM sleep when the full moon phase was near, while females had less sleep.
Overall, no evidence exists that the moon’s cycles influence human behaviors, emotions, and health. They don’t cause people to become more violent, aggressive, anxious, or depressed.
