Research Projects

We are currently conducting a research study testing two strategies to reduce evening light exposure in order to improve children’s sleep and the timing of their biological clock. Click here to complete a short screening form to help us determine if your child is eligible!

Why is this important to study? Many young children are exposed to light in the evening hours before bedtime. Children’s biological clocks are highly sensitive to evening light exposure, which can delay the timing of the clock and make it hard to fall asleep. 

Who should get involved? We are interested in healthy children who struggle to fall asleep after bedtime at least 3 times per week, and who will be between 5.0-6.9 years of age at the time of study enrollment. 

How can my child qualify for the study? In a brief telephone interview, we ask you questions about your child’s sleep and developmental/health history. We will also ask you to complete questionnaires that help us determine if your child is a good fit for the study. 

What will my child be doing in the study? This study lasts about 5 weeks. It begins with an orientation session at our lab where we provide you with information about what your child and you will be asked to do during the study. These tasks will include: 

Training Visits: You and your child make brief visits to our lab during the first two weeks of the study to slowly introduce the procedures used to measure melatonin in saliva. 

Activity and Light Monitoring: Your child wears a small watch-like wrist monitor and pendant monitor on a breakaway lanyard for the duration of the study. These monitors record movement (wrist) and light (pendant) and let us keep track of your child’s sleep and light exposure patterns throughout the study. 

Sleep Diary: You will be asked to complete a brief sleep diary each day to record your child’s bedtimes and wake times. 

Biological Rhythms Assessment: On two evenings, your child gives saliva samples by “mouthing” a dry cotton roll for about 1-2 minutes. Saliva samples allow us to measure levels of melatonin, a hormone related to the body’s biological “clock”.  

Intervention: Your child will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to 1 of 2 two-week light reduction interventions: 

1. Amber-Tinted Goggles: Your child will wear a pair of child-sized glasses for 1 hour before bedtime. The glasses are amber-tinted and block certain wavelengths of light.  

2. Home Lighting Adjustment: We will change some of the lightbulbs in your home to smart lightbulbs, which will automatically become dimmer and redder in the hour before your child’s bedtime. 

Compensation: Because this study requires time and effort, your family will receive $400 at the end of the study when all assessments are complete. Your child is also frequently rewarded with small “gifts”. If you with draw from the study before completion, you will receive partial compensation. 

Study Location: Parts of this study will happen in your home. Laboratory visits will take place at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.  

Thinking your child will never do these things? Think again! Kids love being in our studies and having special “sleep fairy” friends! Our research team is experienced in working with young children and making study activities fun, rewarding, and interactive. We use games, books, and play activities to introduce your child to the study procedures and develop rapport. 

Want more information? Call 520-621-0972 or email sleepdev@arizona.edu. 

An Institutional Review Board responsible for human subjects research at The University of Arizona reviewed this research project and found it to be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and University policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research. 

Recent Publications