Evaluating the Level of Lighting Satisfaction and Determining Degrees of Visual Fatigue, Mental Task Load, Sleepiness, and Sleep Quality in Students

Abstract

: Lighting affects humans in many ways, including intelligence, body temperature, and sleep patterns. This study aimed to evaluate lighting satisfaction, mental task load, visual fatigue, and sleep quality in students. The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 students of Saveh Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran, in 2020. The data of their levels of lighting satisfaction, mental task level, visual fatigue, and sleep quality were collected using standard questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Software version 21. The quantitative variables were reported in mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables in frequency and percentage. A chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. In addition, the independent t-test was applied to compare the sleepiness score according to the relevant variables and the Pearson correlation test was utilized to investigate the relationship between sleepiness and sleep quality scores. The significance level was less than 0.05 for all statistical tests. The results indicated that the students’ satisfaction scores with current lighting were indifference. Visual fatigue was low, and sleepiness was mild. The students' subjective task load and sleep quality were moderate and low. There was a significant inverse relationship between visual fatigue and lighting satisfaction (P < 0.001). In addition, visual fatigue and task load had a significant direct relationship (P < 0.001). The average number of hours of sleep per night was 6.72 hours for students, which was less than the normal recommended amount. The average sleep quality was 11.06, which was low in the population. According to the results, the students’ mental task load and sleep quality were medium and low. It seems necessary to pause and rest between training, increase the variety of educational activities, appropriate training, and lighting intervention.