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[Effect of light therapy on the night sleep of children with sleep problems]

Nino Wessolowski1, Claus Barkmann2, Lydia Yao Stuhrmann2

  • 1Department Psychologie, Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg.

Zeitschrift Fur Kinder- Und Jugendpsychiatrie Und Psychotherapie
|August 9, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Light therapy can help children with sleep problems fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. This study found significant improvements in sleep onset and duration for children using light therapy at home.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Medicine
  • Chronobiology
  • Behavioral Therapy

Background:

  • Adolescent studies indicate light therapy improves nighttime sleep, including earlier sleep onset and longer sleep duration.
  • Children frequently experience sleep problems, impacting their overall well-being and development.
  • Investigating therapeutic interventions for pediatric sleep disturbances is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the effects of home-based light therapy on sleep problems in children.
  • To assess improvements in sleep onset, sleep duration, and mood in pediatric participants.
  • To determine if findings in adolescents are transferable to a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • Employed an A-B-A-B single-subject design with four measurement points.
  • Utilized a sample of 28 children (mean age 10.0 years) experiencing difficulties with sleep onset and maintenance.
  • Administered a light therapy device for home use, alternating with non-application periods weekly.

Main Results:

  • Significant, small- to medium-sized effects were observed in reducing sleep-onset problems.
  • Improvements were noted in children's ability to sleep through the night.
  • Positive effects on children's mood were also detected, with sleep onset reduced by approximately 10 minutes.

Conclusions:

  • Light therapy shows promise as an intervention for sleep problems in children, mirroring findings in adolescents.
  • Observed effects suggest transferability of light therapy benefits to pediatric populations.
  • Further research is recommended to fully elucidate circadian effects and optimize treatment protocols, despite potential underestimation in this study.

Keywords:
KindheitLichtLichttherapieSchlafSchlafstörungchildhoodlightlight therapysleepsleep disorder

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