Bright light therapy and the circadian rhythms : the effects of bright light therapy on the circadian rhythms in healthy young adults

Research has shown that a destabilized circadian rhythms (CR) can result in sleep disturbances as well as increasing the likelihood of developing anxiety symptoms. A stable circadian rhythm is therefore important to the individual’s long term physical and mental health. Bright light therapy (BLT) has been used increasingly to re-adjust a CR, as light is highly important for regulating the CR light is a logical treatment for disorders caused by a disruption in the CR. This study aims to examine if BLT could positively affect the CR in healthy individuals. 130 healthy university students were screened using the Bergen Insomnia Scale, the 50 individuals who scored the highest were offered to participate. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups and asked to use glasses with two different levels of brightness. Participants were measured with actigraphy monitors for four days, participants wore the BLT glasses for 30 minutes each morning for three weeks, then they wore the monitors again for four days. The results showed a statistical difference between groups on several measurements which indicate that BLT is promising in stabilizing peoples CR.

Author dc:creator

• Aron Haukur Hauksson 1988-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Sálfræði
• Ljósameðferð
• Lífritmi
• Svefn
• Psychology
• Phototherapy
• Circadian rhythms
• Sleep

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/34812

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/34812