Light exposure is related to social and emotional functioning and to quality of life in older women

Abstract

While there are data supporting the use of light in clinical populations, there has been less investigation of relationships among light and psychological variables in non-clinical samples. Subjects were 459 ethnically diverse women (mean age 67.68) recruited as part of the Women's Health Initiative. Light exposure and sleep were measured with an Actillume wrist actigraph. Subjects completed questionnaires, investigating Social Support, Social Functioning, Social Strain, Quality of Life, Satisfaction with Life, Emotional Well-being, Optimism, Negative Emotional Expressiveness, and Role Limitation Due to Emotional Problems. Significant partial correlations (controlling for age, education and ethnicity) were found between mesor light exposure and Social Functioning, Quality of Life, Satisfaction with Life, and Emotional Well-Being. Quality of Life and Satisfaction with Life were also found to be significantly correlated with morning light. The most parsimonious model to account for the variance shared between mesor light and the predictors included only Quality of Life. The variance shared between mesor light exposure and social and emotional functioning could be subsumed under the variance shared between mesor light exposure and Quality of Life. Increased light exposure is related to improved quality of life and social and emotional functioning.

Effects of spending time outdoors in daylight on the psychosocial well-being of older people and their family carers: a systematic review

“…These studies included a cohort of 450 post menopausal women from the Womens Health Initiative study to evaluate how depression (using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale [CESD]) was linked to light exposure as measured by wrist actigraphy with a light meter. 20,37 Fewer depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of light exposure (p<0.05), but this relationship could be driven by other factors associated with quality of life. 20 In another study, utilizing the same cohort, an investigation into mood and light exposure showed a modest, non-significant correlation between environmental light and depressive symptoms.…”

“…The studies evaluated different aspects of psychosocial well-being including behavioral disturbances (n=3), 11,35,38 20 and the Perceived Quality of Life Scale. 39 Significant results will be reported (p value) and non-significant results will be referred to as NS.…”

“…19,20,37,4,39 Exposure was measured using solar radiation and actigraphy, and by the frequency of going outdoors.…”

“…Increased light exposure, including spending time outdoors in daylight, is related to improved mood in older adults. 20 Outdoor exercise programs in older adults have shown positive beneficial effects on mood, even after controlling for exercise. 21 Elevation in mood was associated with a favorable effect on perceived well-being in older people.…”

“…22 Correlations between light exposure and QoL have been documented qualitatively 23 and quantitatively. 20 Older people who perceive barriers in the outdoor environment were shown to have a lower QoL. 24 Outdoor activities improved self-rated health in older people.…”