Astrological Misfire: Researchers Debunk Influence of Zodiac Signs on Mental State

Associate Professor Mohsen Joshanloo from South Korea's Keimyung University conducted a study to explore the connection between subjective well-being and Western astrological signs. His findings, published in the journal Kyklos, revealed no significant correlation between the two. Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting astrological influences on well-being, many individuals still cling to the belief that their fate is predetermined by the stars.

Juan Martinez June 3, 2024

Ah, the age-old blame game of attributing our bad attitudes to the alignment of the stars in our astrological birth chart. Well, it seems that the gig is up! Mohsen Joshanloo, the psychology guru from Keimyung University in South Korea, decided to put this theory to the test. And guess what? He found absolutely no correlation between “Subjective well-being” and the influence of Western astrological signs. Sorry, astrology enthusiasts, your scapegoat just got debunked.

In his study, published in the prestigious journal Kyklos and highlighted in PsyPost, Joshanloo recruited over 12,000 participants from the General Social Survey, a trusted American-based survey. He delved into their well-being across eight key components, from general unhappiness to dissatisfaction with marriage, and then cross-referenced this data with their self-reported zodiac birth signs. The results? Drumroll, please – no significant connection between the two. So much for blaming your mood swings on being a quirky Virgo!

But wait, there’s more! Joshanloo didn’t stop there. He dug deeper to see if these zodiac signs could predict future well-being. And surprise, surprise – nada. Zilch. “Astrological signs were no more predictive than random numbers,” he concluded in his paper. It’s a mic-drop moment, backed by a substantial sample size, yet it’s unlikely to deter the die-hard believers who swear by their horoscopes. In fact, up to 30 percent of Americans still put their faith in the stars.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this astrological soul-searching? Well, it seems that we can’t blame our bad days on Mercury being in retrograde or Saturn’s pesky return. Our well-being is far more complex and multifaceted than the position of constellations. Perhaps it’s time to take a good look in the mirror and own up to our own responsibilities for our happiness and fulfillment. After all, as Joshanloo’s study suggests, our fate isn’t written in the stars but crafted by our own hands.

In a world where we seek external validations and explanations for our emotions, it’s a refreshing reality check to know that we hold the power to shape our own well-being. So, next time you’re feeling down, instead of blaming it on your astrological sign, take a moment to reflect, recalibrate, and remember that the stars may not dictate your destiny, but your actions certainly can.