Effects of School Lighting on Physical Development and School Performance
Abstract
In this study, physical development and school performance effects of different types of school lighting on elementary students were examined. Students' dental health, growth and development, attendance, and academic achievement were examined under four different types of artificial light sources: (a) full-spectrum fluorescent lamps, (b) full-spectrum fluorescent lamps with ultraviolet light supplements, (c) coolwhite fluorescent lamps, and (d) high-pressure sodium vapor lamps. Baseline data on 327 students completing Grade 4 were collected at the start of the study in June 1987 and on the 233 students remaining at the conclusion of the study in June 1989. The results of the 2-year study indicate that students under fullspectrum fluorescent lamps with ultraviolet supplements developed fewer dental cavities and had better attendance, achievement, and growth and development than did students under other lights. Students under the high-pressure sodium vapor lamps had the slowest rates of growth and development as well as the poorest levels of attendance and achievement. These findings indicate that lights have important nonvisual effects on students who are regularly exposed to them in classrooms.
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Schools with full-spectrum light or full-spectrum with ultraviolet enhancement are associated with increased attendance and academic achievement.
“Schools with full-spectrum light or full-spectrum with ultraviolet enhancement (that emulates natural light) have been associated with increased attendance and academic achievement.83,88,89”
From Critical connections: health and academics (2015) · cites this paper as [88]
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- Authors
- Hathaway, W. E.
- Corresponding author
- Hathaway, Warren E.
- Venue
- The Journal of Educational Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1995-03
- Volume
- 88
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 228-242
- ISSN
- 0022-0671 (ISSN-L)
- 1940-0675
- OpenAlex
- W2170544700
- Cited by
- 75
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Educational Research (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Human Health and Disease
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
- Social Sciences › Education › Educational Environments and Student Outcomes
- Keywords
- school lighting, artificial light sources, dental caries, student development, school attendance, academic performance, elementary school students
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