Using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to Study the Impact of Colored Glasses on Sleep Quality, Energy Level, and Mood (2016)

Undergraduates: Lindsey Freeman, Tate Halverson Nisha Gottfredson

Faculty Advisor: Eric Youngstrom
Department: Psychology & Neuroscience

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Sleep dysregulation has been linked with many psychiatric diagnoses, including mood disorders. Luckily, light manipulation is a promising cost-effective intervention, as blocking certain wavelengths of light can help improve sleep latency/duration, as well as subsequent reported energy levels and mood. However, methods historically employed in studying sleep and mood are limited: assessments are generally given once per day, and may not give a complete picture as to how well these interventions work. This study examines the effectiveness of wearing different colored lenses (amber-tinted glasses and blue lensed control glasses) 3 hours prior to bedtime in improving sleep/mood outcomes in a nonclinical sample. The study also examines if there is an interaction present between the effect of the glasses and the time of day on self-reported energy levels.

39 participants from UNC were enrolled in the 18-day study. For days 1-6 of the study, participants completed baseline measures of sleep-related items through four daily surveys sent via text/email. The study employed a randomized crossover design to assign glasses condition: in addition to answering the daily surveys, participants were randomized to wear either amber or blue glasses for days 7-12, three hours prior to their normal time of sleep onset. For days 13-18, participants answered the daily surveys and wore their second pair of glasses three hours before sleep onset.

Data analysis is still underway.