Greater exposure to light at night is associated with an increased risk of certain psychiatric disorders
Higher night time light exposure is associated with an increased risk of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, psychosis, bipolar disorder and self-harm, according to the study.
Greater exposure to daylight is associated with a reduced risk of some psychiatric disorders
Independent of night time exposure, higher daytime sunlight exposure was linked to reduced risk of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, PTSD, psychosis, bipolar disorder and self-harm, even when controlling for shift work, sleep quality, urban affiliation or cardiometabolic health.
Nocturnal exposure to light was linked to impaired mood and well-being, while exposure to daylight led to improvement.
Increased night time exposure and decreased daytime exposure to light also improved respondentsâ subjectively rated mood and well-being, according to the research findings. This fact is explained by the fact that the non-visual effects of light not only affect circadian rhythms, but also directly affect the brain centres â the amygdala and habenula, which are associated with mood.
