Author Identifier (ORCID)
Mitchell Turner: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6406-1273
Manja Laws: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4784-7623
Madeline Griffiths: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7109-0375
Travis Cruickshank: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8673-191X
Abstract
Objectives: To explore associations between air temperature and light in the sleeping environment and sleep health in individuals with neurological conditions. Methods: The sleep health of 46 individuals with neurological conditions (mean age 51.37 ± 14.24 years; 20 males, 26 females) was measured using the Sleep Health Index (SHI). Air temperature and light data were captured across seven days using a light/temperature data logger positioned next to the participant’s bed. Data recorded during the participants’ sleeping periods (determined using a sleep diary) were analyzed. Linear regression models were used to assess the associations between air temperature and light and sleep health (including domains). Results: This study showed that for every additional minute of low (10 to 50 lux) light exposure during sleep periods, sleep quality decreased by 9%. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that low light exposure during sleep periods may be detrimental to the sleep quality of individuals with neurological conditions.
Keywords
Sleep environment, sleep health, neurological conditions, light exposure, air temperature, sleep quality, sleep health index, environmental factors, sleep disturbance, circadian disruption
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2026
Publication Title
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Centre for Precision Health
RAS ID
95144
Funders
This work was supported by grant funding from Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia (MSWA) [G1004557].
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Turner, M., Laws, M., Griffiths, M., & Cruickshank, T. (2026). The associations between sleep environment factors and sleep health in individuals living with neurological conditions. Behavioral Sleep Medicine. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2026.2651205