Effect of pre-and post-exam stress levels on thermal sensation of students

Abstract

The Predicted Mean Vote and Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied (PMV/PPD) method is used worldwide to assess thermal comfort. The PMV/PPD method traditionally depends on four environmental parameters; air temperature, relative humidity, mean radiant temperature and air velocity, and two personal parameters; metabolic rate and clothing insulation. However, accurate modelling of thermal comfort requires consideration of psychological impacts, as well as associated physical responses to the environment. This paper investigates the effect of one of the psychological parameters; stress level on the thermal sensation of students for male and female which can be a sufficient limitation of the accuracy of thermal comfort/sensation models. Actual Thermal Sensation (ATS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) are used to examine the effect of stress level on the thermal sensation. Pre-test-Post-test Control (PPC) experimental design is conducted on the students in a university, Ankara, Turkey, which has a Csb type climate zone according to Köppen-Geiger climate classification. First, students are split into two random groups; control and experimental groups. The students in experimental group are requested to attend exam while the students in control group read their favourite books. Then, students are subjected to pre-and post-exam surveys in order to understand the relationship between stress level and ATS. As a supportive analysis, Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Temperature (ST) are also included in the study as sympathetic responses of occupants to the thermal discomfort due to stress. Smart wristbands and infrared thermometers are used to measure Heart Rate and Skin Temperature of the students. Results showed that there is a difference between control group and experimental group before the exam (pre-test) except the ST of females. After the exam (post-test), there are no significant differences between two groups.