School of Industrial Design 

MID Candidate: Jessica Lee

Date: January 6, 2016

Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Location: West Architecture, Room 250

Committee Members:

Prof. Wendell Wilson, School of Industrial Design, Advisor

Prof. Stephen Chininis, School of Industrial Design

Dr. Ayanna Howard, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Title: Designing Modular Lighting Sets to Decrease Anxiety in Preadolescents Using Light and Play Therapy

Abstract:

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common disorders among adolescent children. Studies indicate that between 10% and 31.9% of children are afflicted, and that anxiety disorders at this age are related to negative outcomes such as poor psychosocial functioning, impairment in social relations, poor academic performance, and an increased risk for substance abuse. Anxiety disorders that begin early in life can become chronic, with a high probability rate of recurrence, predicting a possible two or three-fold risk for anxiety and depression in adulthood. Studies of light therapy on nonseasonal depression have shown positive evidence for efficacy, except when light therapy and medication are combined. As 75% of individuals affected report anxiety occurring before the onset of depression, there is the possibility that using light therapy to decrease symptoms of anxiety may also decrease the chance of depression developing. In addition to light, play therapy has proven to be an effective therapeutic approach to reduce anxiety. In a research study done with 47 children of various anxiety disorders, anxiety symptoms among 64% of children in the experimental group disappeared. The objective of this project is to use therapeutic design to develop a modular lighting set for preadolescent children to use independently in public social settings to decrease symptoms of anxiety.