According to ScienceDaily, your home's humidity can indeed affect your mood.

A groundbreaking study found a connection between damp, moldy homes and depression.

The 2007 study, led by Brown University epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa and published in the American Journal of Public Health, surprised researchers. Shenassa actually set out to prove that there was no connection between depression and humidity in the home, but he proved otherwise.

"We thought that once we statistically accounted for factors that could clearly contribute to depression – things like employment status and crowding – we would see any link vanish," said Shenassa, the lead author of the study and an associate professor in the Department of Community Health at Brown. "But the opposite was true. We found a solid association between depression and living in a damp, moldy home."

Shenassa points out that mold doesn't necessarily cause depression; however, the association between depression and moldy homes is likely driven by two factors: 1) A perceived lack of control over the home environment. 2) Mold-related health problems such as asthma and allergies.

"Physical health, and perceptions of control, are linked with an elevated risk for depression," Shenassa said, "and that makes sense. If you are sick from mold, and feel you can’t get rid of it, it may affect your mental health."

"What the study makes clear," continues Shenassa, "is the importance of housing as indicator of health, including mental health. Healthy homes can promote healthy lives."

See The Link between Allergies & Depression to learn more.

If you live in a damp, moldy home, you can eliminate the excess moisture in the air with a dehumidifier. We recommend that you keep your home's relative humidity below 50% to control mold and dust mite populations.

You can monitor the relative humidity in your home with a digital humidity gauge.

This time of year, during the cold, dry, winter months, many people actually need to increase the relative humidity in their home with a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air. Dry air can be troublesome to people with sinus problems and dry skin conditions.

If you use a humidifier, just be sure to monitor your humidity so that it doesn't get too high. You don't want to give life to a mold colony in your home! Also, clean your humidifier at least once a week to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.