relation: http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/7018/
title: Outdoor thermal comfort characteristics in the hot and humid region from a gender perspective
creator:  Tung Chien-Hung
creator:  Chen Chen-Peng
creator:  Tsai Kang-Ting
creator:  Kántor Noémi
creator:  Hwang Ruey-Lung
creator:  Matzarakis Andreas
creator:  Lin Tzu-Ping
description: Thermal comfort is a subjective psychological perception of people based also on  physiological thermoregulation mechanisms when the human body is exposed to a combination of various environmental factors including air temperature, air humidity, wind speed, and radiation conditions. Due to the importance of gender in the issue of outdoor thermal comfort, this study compared and examined the thermal comfort-related differences between male and female subjects using previous data from Taiwanese questionnaire survey. Compared with males, the results indicated that females in Taiwan are less tolerant to hot conditions and  intensely protect themselves from sun exposure. Our analytical results are inconsistent with the findings of previous physiological studies concerning thermal comfort indicating that females have superior thermal physiological tolerance than males. On the contrary, our findings can be interpreted on psychological level. Environmental behavioral learning theory was adopted in this study to elucidate this observed contradiction between the autonomic thermal physiological and psychological-behavioral aspects. Women might desire for a light skin tone through social learning processes, such as observation and education, which is subsequently reflected in their psychological perceptions (fears of heat and sun exposure) and behavioral adjustments (carrying umbrellas or searching for shade). Hence, these unique psychological and behavioral phenomena cannot be directly explained by autonomic physiological thermoregulation mechanisms. The findings of this study serve as a reference for  designing spaces that accommodates gender-specific thermal comfort characteristics. Recommendations include providing additional suitable sheltered  areas in open areas, such as city squares and parks, to satisfy the thermal comfort needs of females.
date: 2014
type: Folyóiratcikk
type: PeerReviewed
format: text
identifier: http://publicatio.bibl.u-szeged.hu/7018/7/art%253A10.1007%252Fs00484-014-0795-7.pdf
identifier:     Tung Chien-Hung;  Chen Chen-Peng;  Tsai Kang-Ting;  Kántor Noémi;  Hwang Ruey-Lung;  Matzarakis Andreas;  Lin Tzu-Ping: Outdoor thermal comfort characteristics in the hot and humid region from a gender perspective.   INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY, 58 (9).  pp. 1927-1939.  ISSN 0020-7128 (2014)     
identifier: doi:10.1007/s00484-014-0795-7
relation: 2603315
language: eng