Exposure to more light at night increases the risk of depression by 30%

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, October 11th (Reporter Liu Xia) - Australian scientists have conducted the largest lighting study to date. A survey of 87000 participants found that exposure to more light at night increases the risk of mental illnesses such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as self harm

Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, October 11th (Reporter Liu Xia) - Australian scientists have conducted the largest lighting study to date. A survey of 87000 participants found that exposure to more light at night increases the risk of mental illnesses such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as self harm. The study also found that exposure to more light during the day can serve as a non pharmacological means to reduce the risk of mental illness. The relevant paper was published in the recent journal Nature Mental Health.

This study was led by Sean Kane, an associate professor at the Monash School of Psychological Sciences. The research results show that people who are exposed to high light at night have a 30% increased risk of developing depression; And those who are exposed to high light during the day have a 20% lower risk of developing depression. Self destructive behavior, mental illness, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder also follow a similar pattern of outcomes as depression. These findings suggest that avoiding light as much as possible at night and exposing to bright light during the day may be an effective non pharmacological approach to reducing serious mental health problems.

Researchers point out that this latest discovery may have significant social impacts. Once people realize that lighting patterns have a powerful impact on their mental health, they can take some simple measures to optimize their sense of happiness. For example, expose yourself to more light during the day and try to be in the dark at night.

The 86772 volunteers who participated in this study underwent light, sleep, physical activity, and mental health examinations. The impact of nighttime light is not related to demographics, sports activities, seasons, or employment conditions.

(Science and Technology Daily)

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