Cited by 232Building Energy and Comfort OptimizationThermoregulation and physiological responsesUrban Heat Island Mitigation

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 157 of the 157 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 132 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Drivers of diversity in human thermal perception – A review for holistic comfort models

Open access

Abstract

Understanding the drivers leading to individual differences in human thermal perception has become increasingly important, amongst other things due to challenges such as climate change and an ageing society. This review summarizes existing knowledge related to physiological, psychological, and context-related drivers of diversity in thermal perception. Furthermore, the current state of knowledge is discussed in terms of its applicability in thermal comfort models, by combining modelling approaches of the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) and adaptive thermal heat balance model (ATHB). In conclusion, the results of this review show the clear contribution of some physiological and psychological factors, such as body composition, metabolic rate, adaptation to certain thermal environments and perceived control, to differences in thermal perception. However, the role of other potential diversity-causing parameters, such as age and sex, remain uncertain. Further research is suggested, especially regarding the interaction of different diversity-driving factors with each other, both physiological and psychological, to help establishing a holistic picture.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review synthesizes physiological, psychological, and contextual drivers of individual differences in human thermal perception and discusses how they might be integrated into holistic comfort models. It finds clear contributions from body composition, metabolic rate, thermal adaptation, and perceived control, while evidence for age and sex remains inconclusive.

Key findings

  • The review identifies body composition, metabolic rate, adaptation to thermal environments, and perceived control as important established drivers of diversity; age- and sex-related differences are described as ambiguous/inconclusive.
  • Personal control showed significant effects in 7 of 9 studies; where neutral temperature effects were reported, they ranged from 0 K to 3.4 K, with a mean effect of 2.16 K (SD = 1.28), and the review later states neutral temperature differs by about 2 K between high and low personal control.
  • For body composition, overweight children perceived the thermal environment as hotter, and higher BMI was associated with lower comfort temperature (−0.4°C in Southern Brazil and −0.7°C in India); frail/less healthy individuals preferred higher temperatures (1.5°C higher in winter and 0.8°C higher in summer).
  • For sex, a systematic review by Wang et al. found no significant neutral-temperature differences between men and women in 9 of 11 laboratory studies and 18 of 25 field studies, although women were often reported as more sensitive to temperature fluctuations and more often dissatisfied.

Methods

  • Two-stage review: stage 1 reviewed existing review papers for physiological drivers; stage 2 used rapid evidence assessments of original papers for psychological and context-related drivers, searching Science Direct and Scopus in June and July 2018 and using Parsifal for screening.
  • Table 2 reports records processed: for the review of reviews, 408 identified, 290 after de-duplication, 19 included by title/abstract, and 9 after full screening; for psychological drivers, 332 identified, 207 after de-duplication, 59 included by title/abstract, and 12 after full screening; for context-related drivers, 408 identified, 290 after de-duplication, 6 included by title/abstract, and 4 after full screening.
  • The modelling discussion combines the thermoneutral zone (TNZ) model by Kingma et al. with the adaptive thermal heat balance (ATHB) framework by Schweiker and Wagner, using pdfTNZ and predicted percentage of satisfied (PPS) comparisons.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the review is not fully systematic, so relevant publications might have been missed; the physiological part included only existing literature reviews, and the physiological adaptation literature was predominantly focused on (sub)tropical conditions with few cold-environment examples.
  • The paper states that the modelling comparison is based solely on combining TNZ and ATHB; metabolic rate was estimated by scaling predicted resting metabolic rate (0.8 MET) to the ASHRAE MET equivalent, with unknown scaling error, and body tissue insulation lacks dedicated papers on variation across subpopulations.
  • The paper states that using height and weight to estimate resting metabolic rate cannot distinguish higher weight due to muscular tissue from other causes; evident from the text, psychological evidence is limited (12 studies, 9 on personal control), proposed psychological pathways remain hypotheses, some tissue-insulation values are assumed, and transient effects/alliesthesia cannot yet be replicated by heat-balance or thermophysiological models.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/23328940.2018.1534490

Cites

157 of 157 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1. Figure 10.10 from Nicol et al [1,p.138] showing the comfort votes measured against operative temperature together with the regression line for comfort votes on operative temperature. Descriptors for the thermal comfort votes are 1 “much too cool”, 2 “too cool”, 3 “comfortably cool”, 4 “comfortable”, 5 “comfortably warm”, 6 “too warm”, and 7 “much too warm”.
Figure 1. Figure 10.10 from Nicol et al [1,p.138] showing the comfort votes measured against operative temperature together with the regression line for comfort votes on operative temperature. Descriptors for the thermal comfort votes are 1 “much too cool”, 2 “too cool”, 3 “comfortably cool”, 4 “comfortable”, 5 “comfortably warm”, 6 “too warm”, and 7 “much too warm”.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 2. Influences on the relationship between physical conditions and the percentage of people satisfied. Inter- or intrapersonal differences in physiological, psychological, and/or context related drivers can lead to (b) a shift of the PPS-curve to the left or right and/or (c) a wider/narrower curve.
Figure 2. Influences on the relationship between physical conditions and the percentage of people satisfied. Inter- or intrapersonal differences in physiological, psychological, and/or context related drivers can lead to (b) a shift of the PPS-curve to the left or right and/or (c) a wider/narrower curve.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 3. Relationship between probability density function (pdf) of solutions for TNZ, Top centroid and dTNZop, pdf of TNZ and PPS curve. The pdf (black line) is for a standard female person. The red line shows the predicted percentage of satisfied (PPS), which is the inverse of the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), as defined by Fanger [8]. The PPS line is based on the same environmental conditions as the pdf-lines. The gray area shows the range of Top, which is related to a PPD by Fanger below 10%.
Figure 3. Relationship between probability density function (pdf) of solutions for TNZ, Top centroid and dTNZop, pdf of TNZ and PPS curve. The pdf (black line) is for a standard female person. The red line shows the predicted percentage of satisfied (PPS), which is the inverse of the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD), as defined by Fanger [8]. The PPS line is based on the same environmental conditions as the pdf-lines. The gray area shows the range of Top, which is related to a PPD by Fanger below 10%.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 4. Comparison between findings by Rupp et al. [80] (bold black lines and shaded areas) and the results of the pdfTNZ approach (gray dashed lines are pdfTNZ’s from left side of figure to ease comparison).
Figure 4. Comparison between findings by Rupp et al. [80] (bold black lines and shaded areas) and the results of the pdfTNZ approach (gray dashed lines are pdfTNZ’s from left side of figure to ease comparison).CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 5. Comparison between adaptive comfort model [43], ATHB [14], and pdfTNZ approach; a) changes in pdfTNZ b) changes in neutral temperature/ Top centroid due to variations in CLO, body tissue insulation, and metabolic rate (see text for details).
Figure 5. Comparison between adaptive comfort model [43], ATHB [14], and pdfTNZ approach; a) changes in pdfTNZ b) changes in neutral temperature/ Top centroid due to variations in CLO, body tissue insulation, and metabolic rate (see text for details).CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 6. Effect of circadian rhythm of core temperature [144] on pdfTNZ and diurnal pattern of Top centroid.
Figure 6. Effect of circadian rhythm of core temperature [144] on pdfTNZ and diurnal pattern of Top centroid.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 7. Effect of hypothesized changes on metabolic rate due to diversity in stress levels.
Figure 7. Effect of hypothesized changes on metabolic rate due to diversity in stress levels.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Figure 8. Potential second pathway to explain differences due to psychological aspects. Depending on context or personality, a person is satisfied with conditions at the edge or outside the region marked by the pdfTNZ.
Figure 8. Potential second pathway to explain differences due to psychological aspects. Depending on context or personality, a person is satisfied with conditions at the edge or outside the region marked by the pdfTNZ.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
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Verification

Claims the paper makes

91 Not checked yet · 52 No basis given · 28 Own interpretation · 11 Own result · 6 Own method

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Show all 86 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 55
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 69
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
102 of 102
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Occupants can freely adjust and acclimatize to several environmental parameters such as air speed, humidity levels and clothing.

    “The extended comfort ranges (seasonal variation) of adaptive comfort models rely on the assumption that occupants can freely adjust, and acclimatize to several environmental parameters such as air speed, humidity levels and clothing.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Dissatisfaction is expressed by thermal sensation votes outside the three middle categories.

    “the assumption that dissatisfaction is expressed by thermal sensation votes outside the three middle categories [8]”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The internal heat balance is dependent on heat production, body tissue insulation, body core, and skin temperatures.

    “The internal heat balance is dependent on heat production, body tissue insulation, body core, and skin temperatures.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The external heat balance is dependent on heat production, clothing insulation, air speed, skin wettedness, relative humidity, skin and operative temperatures.

    “The external heat balance is dependent on heat production, clothing insulation, air speed, skin wettedness, relative humidity, skin and operative temperatures.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Physiologically feasible solutions are defined where body core temperature is within a specific range (e.g. 36.5°C to 37.5°C), and body tissue insulation is constrained to what is within thermoregulatory bounds.

    “Physiologically feasible solutions are defined where body core temperature is within a specific range (e.g. 36.5°C to 37.5°C), and body tissue insulation is constrained to what is within thermoregulatory bounds (e.g. highest body tissue insulation for maximal vasoconstriction and lowest body tissue insulation for maximal vasodilation).”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Thermal perception and preferred temperature are affected by body composition.

    “Therefore, it can be assumed that thermal perception and preferred temperature are affected by body composition.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    A shift of thermal sensation and comfort temperatures over the year occurs in climatic regions with distinct seasonal temperature differences.

    “From the perspective of physiological adaptation presented in the above, also a shift of thermal sensation and comfort temperatures over the year may be assumed, at least for those climatic regions, which have distinct temperature differences over the different seasons.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    A decrease of metabolic rate in hot environments is not due to physiological changes but is rather attributable to behavioral adjustments.

    “it can be assumed that a decrease of metabolic rate in hot environments, which has earlier been suggested to be a physiological consequence of heat adaptation [140], is not due to physiological changes but is rather attributable to behavioral adjustments [90].”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Body tissue insulation decreases with adaptation to heat.

    “from the increased peripheral blood flow resulting from heat adaptation, it is plausible that body tissue insulation decreases.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    There is a relationship between stress level (potentially increased by a lack of perceived control) and metabolic rate.

    “following the assumption of a relationship between stress level (potentially increased by a lack of perceived control) and metabolic rate [14].”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The PMV's double heat balance equation only accounts for the mean radiant temperature (MRT).

    “However, the PMV’s double heat balance equation only accounts for the MRT.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Indoor thermal conditions chosen by an individual affect energy use.

    “Knowing the true drivers of diversity will be helpful in preparation for global challenges because the indoor thermal conditions chosen by an individual do not only affect the energy use – in itself a driver of climate change – but also affect health, wellbeing, and productivity.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Energy use is a driver of climate change.

    “Knowing the true drivers of diversity will be helpful in preparation for global challenges because the indoor thermal conditions chosen by an individual do not only affect the energy use – in itself a driver of climate change – but also affect health, wellbeing, and productivity.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Indoor thermal conditions chosen by an individual affect health, wellbeing, and productivity.

    “Knowing the true drivers of diversity will be helpful in preparation for global challenges because the indoor thermal conditions chosen by an individual do not only affect the energy use – in itself a driver of climate change – but also affect health, wellbeing, and productivity.”
14 of 14

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Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 21

  1. Shipworth D, 2016, Proc. 9th Wind. Conf. Mak. Comf. Relev., 1
  2. de Dear RJ, 1997, Final Rep. ASHRAE Res. Proj. 884. Macquarie Univ. Sydney
  3. Rijal HB, 2008, ASHRAE Trans, 114, 555
  4. Humphreys MA, 1976, J Inst Heat Vent Eng, 44, 5
  5. Gagge AP, 1986, ASHRAE Trans, 92, 709
  6. Fiala D, 2009, ASHRAE Trans, 109, 179
  7. Aebischer B, 2007, Proc Eceee
  8. Hensel H, 1981, Monogr Physiol Soc, 38, 18
  9. Fanger PO, 1973, Br J Ind Med, 30, 313
  10. Tc IUPS, 2001, Jpn J Physiol, 51, 245
  11. Pallubinsky H, 2017, Temp (Austin, Tex.), 4, 176
  12. Candido C, 2012, Transform Mark Built Environ Routledge
  13. Paciuk M, 1990, Environ Des Res Assoc, 21, 303
  14. Auliciems A, 1975, Build Serv Eng, 43, 94
  15. Berglund L, 1978, Ashrae J, 20, 38
  16. Rohles JRF, 1985, ASHRAE Trans, 91, 116
  17. Kolarik J, 2005, Proc. Energy Effic. Technol. Indoor Environ. Gliwice, Poland
  18. Wyon D, 1971, Proc. 5th Int. Congr. heating, Vent. air Cond, 87
  19. Du Bois D, 1989, Nutrition, 5, 303
  20. Huebner GM, 2017, Int Conf Environ Psychol Coruna
  21. Brager GS, 2004, ASHRAE Trans, 110, 17

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Metadata

Authors
Schweiker, M., Huebner, G. M., Kingma, B. R. M., Kramer, R., & Pallubinsky, H.
Affiliations
  • Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (DE)
  • Energy Institute (GB)
  • Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (NL)
  • Maastricht University (NL)
Corresponding author
Kingma, Boris R. M.
Venue
Temperature
Published
2018-10-02
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
308-342
ISSN
  • 2332-8940 (ISSN-L)
  • 2332-8959
OpenAlex
W2898597150
Cited by
231
References
156
Citations by year
2026: 49 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 13
FWCI
1.99
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • Temperature (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • TU/e Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Repository KITopen (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • TNO Repository (submittedVersion)
  • TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Repository hosted by TU Delft Library (TU Delft) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • TU/e Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • KITopen
Funders
  • Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften (WIN-Kolleg Thermal comfort and pain)
  • Horizon 2020 (668786)
  • RCUK Centre for Energy Epidemiology (EP/K011839/1)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Heat Island Mitigation
Keywords
thermal sensation, individual differences, thermal comfort models, thermoneutral zone, psychological factors, perceived control, body composition, metabolic rate, thermal adaptation, aging, sex differences, age differences

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