Abstract
ObjectiveSeasonal changes in mood and behavior are common in a general population, being of relevance to public health. We wanted to analyze whether the HRQoL is associated with the seasonal changes in mood and behavior. Because the shortage of exposure to daylight or artificial bright light has been linked to the occurrence of the seasonal changes, we wanted to know whether illumination indoors contributes to the HRQoL.MethodsOf the sample of 7979 individuals, being representative of the Finnish general population aged 30 and over, 88% were interviewed face to face, and 84% participated in the health status examination after which the self-report assessment of the HRQoL and the seasonal changes in mood and behavior took place. The illumination levels experienced indoors were asked during the interview and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was filled in before the health examination.ResultsThe HRQoL was influenced by both the seasonal changes in mood and behavior (P < 0.001) and the illumination experienced indoors (P < 0.001). Greater seasonal changes (P < 0.001) and poor illumination indoors (P = 0.0035) were associated with more severe mental ill-being.ConclusionThe routinely emerging seasonal changes in mood and behavior are associated with the HRQoL and mental well-being. Better illumination indoors might alleviate the season-bound symptoms and thereby enhance the HRQoL and mental well-being.
Highlights
Exposures to light, or the light-dark transitions, are needed for reset of the principal circadian clock on a daily basis
Because the shortage of exposure to daylight or artificial bright light has been linked to the occurrence of the seasonal changes, we wanted to know whether illumination indoors contributes to the health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
Determinants of the health-related quality of life First, we found that both the seasonal changes in mood and behavior and the experienced illumination indoors contributed independently to the HRQoL, since both the global seasonality score (GSS) (t = -13.34, P < 0.001) and the illumination score (t = -4.75, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with the Fifteen Dimensions Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument (15D) sum score in the two univariate regression models
Summary
The light-dark transitions, are needed for reset of the principal circadian clock on a daily basis. Changes of season challenge these time-keeping mechanisms of action as, for instance, the evening-active cells yield the dominance to the morning-active cells within the principal circadian clock following the shortening of the length of day and the shortage of daylight in the fall [3]. Individuals with recurrent major depressive episodes in a particular period of the year have seasonal affective disorder [4]. Patients with these seasonal symptoms have impairment in the quality of life (QoL) during winter but improve (page number not for citation purposes). Interest in the assessment and significance of the HRQoL has increased in recent years [6]
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