EFFECTS OF OUTDOOR NATURAL LIGHT EXPOSURE ON SLEEP QUALITY IN THE ELDERLY

Abstract

Introduction: One of the serious outcomes associated with ageing is the highprevalence of age-related sleep disturbances detrimentally influencing generalwell-being in the elderly. Whilst underexposure to diurnal bright light appears tobe a reason for disturbed sleep in old age, further empirical evidence is required toconfirm such a relationship.Materials and Method: In order to contribute to our current understanding ofthe subject, a study was conducted in a long-term care facility in Istanbul, Turkey.Participating elderly residents (N = 39) were exposed to natural light outdoors (>10,000 lx) for 40 minutes in the morning on 17–21 June and 1–5 July 2019, and theywere asked to report on their sleep quality by completing various questionnairesthroughout the study.Results: The results of the study demonstrated a significant difference (p