Does the full moon affect children's violent behavior? | Family
Many people believe that the full moon affects children's behavior, making them more violent and active. This belief has deep roots in the history and cultures of some peoples, and there may be several reasons why some people believe in this idea.
The full moon has been associated in a number of popular and historical accounts with its effect on human behavior and health. Some cultures have even associated the full moon with strange or unusual behaviors, such as human transformations into wolf-like creatures (werewolf myth) or temporary insanity.
The moon is associated with strange phenomena, including increased nocturnal activity, and this belief extends back thousands of years, as some believe that the full moon can affect people in mysterious ways.
Science answers
In 2016, the journal Pediatrics published the results of an analysis of data from more than 5,800 children from five continents. The researchers found no statistically significant association between the full moon and children's behavior or sleep, which revealed that there is no proven relationship between the full moon and increased activity or violent behavior in children.
The results showed that children's activity levels – including the amount of time they spent doing high- and low-intensity activities and sitting time – were about the same during the full moon and the new moon (the phase of the moon when it is not visible from Earth).
However, children's sleep time was about 5 minutes shorter on full moon nights than on new moon nights, the study said, representing about 1 percent of children's total sleep time.
From a health perspective, such a small effect is “unlikely to be significant,” the researchers said. It’s not clear why children get less sleep on nights with a full moon. One possible reason could be that the brightness of the full moon interferes with children’s sleep, the researchers said. However, given the abundance of artificial light in modern societies, this seems unlikely, the researchers said.
A study by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that analyzing emergency department records over a long period of time did not find an increase in violence-related ER visits during full moon periods.
In an older study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin, researchers reviewed the evidence on the effects of the full moon. The study concluded that the evidence did not support a direct or clear effect of the full moon on human behavior.
Does moonlight affect sleep quality?
According to Medical News Today, moonlight may affect sleep duration, which may then affect people's energy levels during the day. The most logical explanation is that before humans knew electricity, the full moon was a major source of light at night, which meant that people were more active at night, especially on full moon nights.
A 2021 study suggested that throughout human history, people were more active on moonlit nights, possibly because more moonlight meant people could continue working or engaging in other activities later in the evening. But there is some evidence that moonlight itself may keep people awake longer.
The study looked at the effects of the lunar cycle on people living in rural environments without electricity, in indigenous communities, and in urban areas. Using sleep monitors, the researchers found that sleep started later and did not last as long on the nights before a full moon.
The study indicated that this phenomenon is likely to occur because the full moon is its brightest phase, reflecting more light from the sun to Earth. Although this light is weaker than direct sunlight, exposure to it may make people feel more alert at night.