Reducing Test Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Evening Bright Light Exposure in University Students.

ABSTRACT: Background: University students often experience high levels of stress and anxiety during exam periods, adversely affecting their well-being and academic performance. This study investigated the short-term effects of evening bright light (BL) exposure on several psychophysiological stress measures during exam preparation. Methods: In this preregistered randomized controlled pilot study, 35 university students were assigned either to an intervention group exposed to BL (1500 lx, 4000 K; n = 18) or a control light (CL) group with standard lighting (100 lx, 3000 K; n = 17) for 4 h over five consecutive evenings. Outcomes included questionnaires (test anxiety, general anxiety, psychological distress), cognitive performance (2-back, go-/no-go task [GNT]), physiologic

SUBMITTER: Dick M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12404836 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature