Light Therapy for University Students

The effects of light therapy on well-being among university students was investigated. A three-week intervention study examined whether the use of light glasses improved sleep quality and concentration and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety among university students. First, a questionnaire was administered to about 130 students to screen for sleep problems. Based on the responses, those with the most sleep problems were invited to participate in the intervention study, which resulted in 39 participants in total. Although studies of light therapy for sleep problems and depression among patients have yielded positive results, the use of light has not been studied much among healthy individuals. The intervention study used glasses that project light in two intensities and participants were randomized into two groups with different intensities of light. The aim of the study was to: a) compare the effects of different light intensities on sleep and concentration and b) investigate whether light therapy influences symptoms of depression and anxiety among university students. The study is expected to increase knowledge of light therapy among healthy individuals, and if the treatment proves successful, it is an easy and inexpensive way to increase well-being among university students.

Inclusion Criteria: * Being a psychology student at Reykjavik University, Iceland * Able to understand, read and write Icelandic * At screening assessment prior to the intervention, demonstrating a score of three or above on any of the six items of the BIS scale, thereby including students who showed even mild symptoms of sleep problems Exclusion Criteria: * Not being a psychology student at Reykjavik University, Iceland * Not able to understand, read and write Icelandic * Demonstrating a score below three on all of the six items of the BIS scale