Journal article
Lightbox therapy for college students' depressive symptoms: a pilot study
Journal of American college health, Vol.74(1), pp.248-255
2026
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2519372
PMID: 40527867
Abstract
Objective: This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of light therapy (LT) on depressive symptoms in college students and to identify barriers to adherence. Participants: A total of 207 college students (mean age = 22.5 years, SD = 5.3; 80.7% female) participated in the LT program, utilizing a lightbox daily for an average of 45 days. Methods: Pre- and post-therapy assessments were conducted using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) to measure depressive symptoms. Adherence barriers were also explored based on participant feedback. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from pre- to post-therapy (M(post-pre) = −2.72; p < .0001). Most students (96.5%) reported that LT improved their mood and alleviated symptoms. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that LT is a potential intervention to reduce depressive symptoms among college students. Future research should include randomized control trials to assess its effectiveness and further explore how patterns of use may impact outcomes. Therapy instructions should also address time management and brightness concerns.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Lightbox therapy for college students' depressive symptoms: a pilot study
- Creators
- Meina Zhang - University of IowaPatrick Rossmann - University of IowaCaitlin Guist - University of IowaChooza Moon - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of American college health, Vol.74(1), pp.248-255
- DOI
- 10.1080/07448481.2025.2519372
- PMID
- 40527867
- NLM abbreviation
- J Am Coll Health
- ISSN
- 1940-3208
- eISSN
- 1940-3208
- Publisher
- ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
- Grant note
- University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH/ACTS): KL2TR002536 University of Iowa Center for Advancing Multimorbidity Science (NIH/NINR): P20 NR018081 Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa - National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program: UL1TR002537
Part of this work was supported by the University of Iowa Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (NIH/ACTS KL2TR002536, PI: Bassuk, Scholar: Moon), University of Iowa Center for Advancing Multimorbidity Science (NIH/NINR P20 NR018081, MPI: Gardner & Rakel, Pilot PI: Moon), The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, grant UL1TR002537. The CTSA program is led by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not neces-sarily represent the official views of the NIH/ACTS or NIH/NINR
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 06/17/2025
- Date published
- 2026
- Academic Unit
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9984832086402771
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