Affective Functioning, "Light Hunger," and Room Brightness Preferences

Abstract

In this study, room brightness preferences of two groups of subjects were tested across an eight month period in a lighting simulation laboratory. Subjects were selected on the basis of their responses to the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) used by researchers to screen for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). One group of 10 subjects scored high on the SPAQ, indicating seasonal changes in mood and behavior. A control group matched on age and gender did not experience seasonal changes in any of the symptoms measured by the SPAQ. The study tested two hypotheses: (a) people with SAD are "light hungry" and should prefer a more brightly lighted room; and (b) if "light hunger" is seasonal, then the SAD group should prefer brighter light in the winter than in the spring months. Results indicate that the SAD group preferred a more brightly lighted room than did the control group across all testing sessions, thus supporting the first hypothesis. Because lighting levels did not differ significantly across the testing sessions, light hunger does not appear to be a seasonally expressed need. The SAD group had significantly higher levels of negative affect and depression across the testing sessions than did the control group. However, the SAD-like symptoms did not disappear in June, as expected. These findings suggest that (a) the SAD group did not, in fact, have SAD; or (b) testing did not occur long enough to measure mood and behavior changes. Results are discussed in terms of vulnerability to affective episodes and lack of light in the environment.

Designing Interiors to Mitigate Physical and Cognitive Deficits Related to Aging and to Promote Longevity in Older Adults: A Review

“…While the literature on public and institutional settings for the elderly was found to be more extensive and conclusive than that for residential environments, the concerns for interior layout, wayfinding, materials, and finishes are similar, and can also be applied to new and modified residential designs. [29] found that good visual access to daylight via interior glazing increased satisfaction in office workers even if they did not have daylight in their immediate space. In fact, merely seeing daylight somewhere in the environment also had positive effects [29].…”

“…[29] found that good visual access to daylight via interior glazing increased satisfaction in office workers even if they did not have daylight in their immediate space. In fact, merely seeing daylight somewhere in the environment also had positive effects [29]. Another study by Rubin et al [30] compared the length of stays of 174 patients with depression randomly assigned to sunny or dull hospital rooms found that those in sunny rooms stayed an average of 16.9 days compared to 19.5 days for those in dull rooms that is, rooms without sun [30].…”

“…Indoor sunlight is also associated with perceived cheerfulness of the environment and higher levels of positive affect for occupants. Moreover, sunlight is beneficial to building occupants who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder, which leads to lowered energy and moods during winter months [29]. Older adults are also more likely to experience circadian disorders in the form of sleep disturbances possibly due to a combination of many factors, which include among others, a less sensitive circadian clock and age-dependent reduced retinal light exposure [31].…”

Effect of Environmental Comfort Factors in Enclosed Transitional Space toward Work Productivity

“…This proves that not only insufficient lighting may have deleterious effect on human comfort in buildings [22] , but excessive natural lighting as well. Meanwhile, another fact pointed from this result was natural daylight is sufficient in providing visually comfortable environment to most of the occupants of educational building while this survey being conducted.…”

Sergi Mekânlarında Doğal ve Yapay Aydınlatma Biçimlerinin Ziyaretçi Deneyimi ile Olan İlişkisinin İrdelenmesi

“…Daha çok çevre psikolojisi alanında yapılan bu araştırmalarda genellikle yapay aydın-latma konusu değişik türdeki mekânlarda ele alınmıştır (Gifford 1988;Biner vd. 1989;Heerwagen 1990;Knez ve Kerz 2000;Durak vd. 2007, Flynn 1977Mehrabian ve Russell 1974;Manav ve Yener 1999).…”