Page 5 - fredo Eyong
P. 5
Chapter 01: Introduction
BACKGROUND
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common kind of depression that affects
about 12 million individuals in northern Europe (NHS 2023). This illness is
defined by recurrent depression episodes that often manifest during certain
seasons, particularly in winter when there is less sunshine exposure. The
correlation between sunshine, serotonin levels, and SAD is well established.
Individuals with SAD have reduced levels of serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter
involved in mood regulation, especially during the winter months when there is a
lack of sunshine.
Moreover, persons with SAD have serotonin imbalances.
The research and design conducted in this document focus on utilising
Research and Design Project
interaction design to enhance the well-being of individuals with seasonal
affective disorder(SAD) in a domestic environment to improve their overall health
and well-being that are worsened by decreased sunshine exposure, which is
further compounded by a lack of vitamin (Partonen, 1998)
(STORYSET.2024)
