Thermo-specific self-efficacy (specSE) in relation to perceived comfort and control

Publication date: June 2016
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 102
Author(s): Maren Hawighorst, Marcel Schweiker, Andreas Wagner
In the adaptive comfort model thermal comfort is described as being influenced by physiological, behavioural and psychological adaptive processes. As psychological variables expectation and habitual adaptation are mentioned. However, the psychological aspects are not sufficiently described yet and related to psychological states rather than personality traits. In this paper, the application of a new questionnaire concerning perceived self-efficacy in the thermal environment is demonstrated. Perceived self-efficacy is in this case the expectation to be able to execute desired actions with respect to the control of indoor thermal conditions. The construct thermo-specific self-efficacy (specSE) was used to analyse differences in the perception of thermal comfort, assumed temperature, perceived control and physiological parameters. Data from field studies in office buildings were compared with data from laboratory experiments. Results showed an influence of specSE on thermal comfort, e.g. people with a low level of specSE feel warmer than people with high specSE. Also perceived control and effectiveness of controls differs between people with high and low specSE.