Light is considered the dominant environmental cue, or zeitgeber, influencing the sleep-wake cycle. Despite recognizing the importance of light for our well-being, less is known about the specific conditions under which light is optimally associated with better sleep. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to examine the association between the amount and timing of light exposure in relation to sleep outcomes in healthy, community-dwelling adults. A systematic search was conducted of four databases from database inception to June 2016. In total, 45 studies met the review eligibility criteria with generally high study quality excepting for the specification of eligibility criteria and the justification of sample size. The majority of studies involved experimental manipulation of light (n=32) vs observational designs (n=13). Broad trends emerged suggesting that (1) bright light (>1000 lux) has positive implications for objectively assessed sleep outcomes compared to dim (<100 lux) and moderate light (100-1000 lux) and (2) bright light (>1000 lux) has positive implications for subjectively assessed sleep outcomes compared to moderate light (100-1000 lux). Effects due to the amount of light are moderated by the timing of light exposure such that, for objectively assessed sleep outcomes, brighter morning and evening light exposure are consistent with a shift in the timing of the sleep period to earlier and later in the * Corresponding author. ndautovich@vcu.edu. (N.D. Dautovich).

The present study extends existing research on the dispositional mindfulness-positive affect association to older ages. The sense of control and positive and negative affect associations are enhanced and buffered, respectively, at older ages, indicating that the association between control and affect differs by age.

No abstract

Bereavement is the state of dealing with a significant loss (M.S. Stroebe, Hansson, Schut, & Stroebe, 2008). Although evidence suggests that there are differences in the bereavement and coping styles of older and younger adults, few studies have been done focusing solely on the differences. The lack of research on this topic merits further study. The purpose of this project was to examine the differences in negative emotions, affective complexity, and repressive coping, between bereaved younger and older adults. We hypothesized that bereaved older adults would report fewer negative emotions, have greater emotional complexity, and use repressive coping more than their younger counterparts. Participants were 51 older adults and 110 younger adults recruited throughout the Louisville community, all of who were bereaved less than a year. We compared reactions to grief in both groups by administering the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC), among other measures. We found only partial support for differences in affective complexity, and the results supported the hypothesis that older adults would be more likely to use repressive coping. In other respects, older and younger adults appeared to respond very similarly to bereavement, which may be quite consistent across the lifespan. Future research might examine how affective complexity may be advantageous to the bereavement process, particularly for older adults.

Although optimal sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, questions exist regarding the sufficient duration of sleep, appropriate timing of sleep, and whether or not naps are helpful or harmful. Generally speaking, for optimal sleep health, adults should aim to obtain between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per day. The optimal timing of this daily sleep is during the nocturnal hours. In regards to napping, evidence is mixed regarding whether napping represents a detriment to optimal sleep behavior. For those who engage in napping, characteristics of napping such as the duration, timing, regularity, and environment are important factors to consider.