TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - Residential light and risk for depression and falls: results from the LARES study of eight European cities
JO  - Public health reports (1974)
A1  - Brown, Mary Jean
A1  - Jacobs, David E.
SP  - 131
EP  - 140
VL  - 126
IS  - Suppl 1
N2  - OBJECTIVES: We examined the relationship between self-reported inadequate residential natural light and risk for depression or falls among adults aged 18 years or older. METHODS: Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate the odds of depression or falls in participants with self-reported inadequate natural residential light vs. those reporting adequate light (n = 6,017) using data from the World Health Organization's Large Analysis and Review of European Housing and Health Survey, a large cross-sectional study of housing and health in representative populations from eight European cities. RESULTS: Participants reporting inadequate natural light in their dwellings were 1.4 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2,1.7) as likely to report depression and 1.5 times (95% CI 1.2, 1.9) as likely to report a fall compared with those satisfied with their dwelling's light. After adjustment for major confounders, the likelihood of depression changed slightly, while the likelihood of a fall increased to 2.5 (95% CI 1.5, 4.2). CONCLUSION: Self-reported inadequate light in housing is independently associated with depression and falls. Increasing light in housing, a relatively inexpensive intervention, may improve two distinct health conditions.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0033-3549
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -