Our physical surroundings can have such a profound influence on who we are.
We all have had feelings that have been connected to a specific place. For instance, perhaps you felt content and relaxed at the park or stressed when at work.
Now, researchers have discovered that your mood, personality, and location are indeed linked together. This was accomplished by using GPS data and interviews of participants to create patterns.
In fact, this research found that where you are can be a predictor of your mood. What this means is that there is tangible proof that how you feel depends on where you are.
Creating the Study
To create the study, researchers interviewed 2,000 college students through a questionnaire. The survey required the students to rate the level of agreement they had with statements about their personality. They then compared the answers with five key personality traits.
These included:
- Openness
- Conscientiousness
- Extroversion
- Agreeableness
- Neuroticism
Next, for two weeks the students would be alerted four times daily by the research team. They would be asked to answer questions about where they were, picking from a list of choices. These included being at the gym, in their apartment, work, etc.
Students were also asked to describe what they were feeling. Additionally, the cell phones tracked their location as well. (Note that this portion of the study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic.)
The Link Between Mood, Personality, and Location
What the researchers found was that, based on what they knew to be the personality of the students, they could predict the preferred physical locations of students. For instance, if they are an introvert, then they were more likely to report being at home. Whereas, socially active students would be in places where they could engage with others. Bars and cafes, for example.
However, there is an additional finding. Stanford’s Professor Gabriella Harari, one of the lead researchers said that: “Controlling for a person’s personality, we also saw that many of the places they (students) spent time in affected how they thought and felt in the moment.”
People, in general, were “more extroverted, more agreeable, more conscientious, when they are in other places” versus staying home. In fact, people often “feel more disorganized and chaotic when they are at home.”
How You Feel Depends on Where You Are
So, it would seem that how you feel truly depends on where you are. But if you are feeling stressed at home, how can you interact with others during COVID? There are ways to accomplish this.
For example:
- Getting together with a friend in the park, but staying six feet apart
- Participating in a socially-distance parade in your neighborhood
- Going for a hike with a friend, but taking separate vehicles to the trailhead
You can find plenty of other examples online. When we spend time with others, we feel better and are more agreeable than when we are alone at home. We always knew that we were social creatures and that people need to interact with others for positive mental health. This study adds to that body of knowledge.
Staying Safe While Socializing
Remember, it’s important to stay safe and follow basic protocols if you decided to spend time with others. The Centers for Disease Control has these suggestions:
- Staying six feet apart from other people
- Wearing a mask or face covering when you can’t maintain distance or are indoors
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds
Also, remember to communicate with the other person about what you both think is important for staying safe and avoiding the spread of COVID-19.
–
Mood, personality, and location are not separate concepts but are actually linked together. Researchers using GPS data have come to some fascinating conclusions based on the information they collect. So, if how you feel depends on where you are, then it’s important to realize spending all your time cooped up at home may not be best for your mental health. However, to stay physically safe, precautions do need to be taken.
If you are struggling with feeling alone or depressed during these challenging times, contact me to find out how I can provide support.
