The Effects of Bright Light Therapy on Adolescent's Sleep Quality and Well-being

Reykjavik University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mood; Depression; Sleep Disturbance; Circadian Rhythms

Treatments: Device: DWL classrooms (Comparison); Device: BWL classrooms (Experimental)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05555186

217543-051 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

VSN-21-143

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sleep problems are common among adolescents which can have a variety of serious biological, emotional, cognitive and psychological consequences. Numerous studies have shown that adolescents who suffer from insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality experience decreased mental well-being which is a growing concern in modern societies.

Effective interventions that enhance sleep quality among adolescents are lacking. One possible reason for sleep problems among adolescents is disturbance in the body's circadian rhythms. As light is known to be the main coordinating factor in circadian rhythms, light therapy is an auspicious method which aims to entrain the circadian rhythms, thereby enhancing sleep quality and well-being. Indeed, bright light therapy (BLT) has been shown to be a promising treatment to improve sleep and decrease depressive symptoms among different patient groups. However, BLT interventions among healthy adolescents are needed. Therefore, the current study will investigate whether BLT in classrooms of 16 year old students can improve their sleep quality and well-being. The results from the study can be important as it is the first one to examine whether light intensity in the classroom affects sleep and well-being among adolescents. Furthermore, if the hypothesis will be supported, a simple and relatively inexpensive method can be implemented to promote better sleep quality and thus have an extensive effect on adolescents' well-being.

Aim 1 - Assess whether BLT will improve sleep quality of adolescents. Aim 2 - Assess whether BLT will decrease depressive symptoms in adolescents. Aim 3 - Assess whether BLT will improve mood in adolescents.

Enrollment: 240 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• First-year students at the school where the research takes place.
• Participants provide written informed consent.
• Parents or caregivers of participants provide informed consent.
• Read and write Icelandic.

Exclusion criteria

• Not first-year students.
• Participant or parent does not provide written informed consent.
• Not capable of reading and writing Icelandic.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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240 participants in 3 patient groups

Experimental light: Sleep quality and well-being

Experimental group

Description:

Exposure to experimental systematic light exposure (BWL) in classroom where students are located every school day from 8:30 AM until the school finishes between 3 and 4 PM

Treatment:

Device: BWL classrooms (Experimental)

Comparison light: Sleep quality and well-being

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Exposure to comparison systematic light exposure (DWL) in classroom where students are located every school day from 8:30 AM until the school finishes between 3 and 4 PM

Treatment:

Device: DWL classrooms (Comparison)

Unchanged lightning

No Intervention group

Description:

Conventional lightning in classrooms where students are located every school day from 8:30 AM until the school finishes between 3 and 4 PM