University Student Sleep Quality: Some Health Insights regarding Light Exposure

Abstract

Young adult sleep quality is reported to be compromised in the literature with shortened sleep intervals, daytime napping, excessive daytime sleepiness and excessive wakeups. The description of young adult sleep quality commonly includes the rationale that the independent schedule of the young adults coupled with their preferred social schedule, work and academic schedules leaves the planning for sleep to last place. Despite mentation and memory reductions with sleep deprivation secondary to poor sleep quality documented in young adults, the poor sleep quality prevails. This study is focused on the elements of arousal during a young adult’s day that may predispose them to elevated activation and difficulty relaxing sufficiently to fall asleep. It was hypothesized that light exposure was elevated in young adults with poor sleep quality. Light exposure in terms of overhead bright lights in classrooms and laboratories of the academic environment, bright light in terms of video monitors/TVs/tablets/phone exposure is sufficiently stimulating to cause cognitive activation was light exposure.