Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41170762›Full record

SynthesisJournal of global health2025

Light at night exposure and risk of depression: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Xiaomeng Li, Sijia Li, Qiaoling Geng, Binhao Wang, Xian Guo, Siyao Yan, Juan Zhang, Jianning Cai, Jianghong Chen, Xiaolin Zhang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xiaomeng Li *Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Sijia Li *Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Qiaoling GengDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Binhao WangDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Xian GuoDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Siyao YanDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Juan ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.
Jianning CaiDepartment of epidemic treating and preventing, Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Shijiazhuang city, Shijiazhuang, China.
Jianghong ChenDepartment of Ultrasound, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Xiaolin ZhangDepartment of Epidemiology and Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Depression is a common mental disorder, and emerging evidence suggests a link between light at night (LAN) exposure and increased risk. This meta-analysis systematically synthesises the accumulating evidence on the LAN-depression relationship. Methods: We systematically examined PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Weipu databases up to June 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. The combined effect size was calculated based on a random-effects model. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed through Cochran's Q test and I Results: We included eight studies published from 2013-2025. Individuals with higher exposure to LAN had higher odds of depression (odds ratio (OR) = 1.224; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.176-1.275). Subgroup analyses revealed that the association varied by LAN exposure types, participant age categories, sample size, LAN exposure assessment and geographical regions. Conclusion: s Our research confirms a significant association between LAN exposure and elevated depression risk. Moderate to high heterogeneity and low sample sizes warrant higher-quality studies to help guide decisions to mitigate nocturnal light pollution and its psychological impacts.

Indexed as

DepressionLightLightingHumansObservational Studies as TopicRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID41170762
PMCPMC12576862

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.