Here Comes The Sun

Abstract

Sunlight exposure is a natural part of one’s daily life. This study (N=30) researched how sunlight exposure affects one’s physical, mental and cognitive health in order to observe sunlight’s impacts on one’s overall wellness. Participants completed a brief, online survey about overall well being, perceptions of well-being, and time spent outdoors in order to explore a relationship between well-being and exposure to sunlight. No significant correlations were found between the number of hours participants spent in direct sunlight and wellness. Some correlations neared significance, suggesting the possibility of relationships. These findings suggest that increased sunlight exposure may not affect one’s overall wellness. The implications of these findings for social work practice and future research are discussed.