Lightbox therapy for college students' depressive symptoms: a pilot study

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.