The influence of ambient light and menstrual status on the moods of a nonclinical population of young women.
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of the daily variation in ambient light and menstrual status on mood fluctuation in a nonclinical population of young women.


METHODS
Women kept mood diaries (two per day) over a period of 32 days that straddled the spring equinox. One group believed the purpose of the study was to investigate women's moods are significantly elevated by light, and this elevation occurs irrespective of the subjects knowledge of the experimental purpose. No evidence for a depression of women's mood in the premenstruum was found, although women who claimed to suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) showed more reversals of their mood during the 32 days records were kept.


CONCLUSIONS
The results highlight the fact that an individual's mood may be influenced by the levels of ambient light as well as the photoperiod.
Einon
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Psychology Department, University College, London, England.
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008131:London; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011293:Premenstrual Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016574:Seasonal Affective Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012621:Seasons