Thermal responses of children and their mothers under preferred temperature determined by the parents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the variation in comfort levels and thermal responses of children and mothers in the same environment. Thirteen mothers (ages 25-39) along with their young children (ages 9 months-4.5 years) served as summertime subjects for these tests. The test room temperature setting was initialized at 25°C and was thereafter continually increased or decreased in increments of 0.4°C every minute. The direction of change was controllable by the mother who, by operating a switch, could achieve thermal comfort for herself and her children. Mean skin temperature and rectal temperature were recorded continuously during the experiment. The three air temperature readings, as determined by the mothers in the present study, were compared against those set by young women in general (Ohnaka et al. 1993) and while no significant differences were noted in the preferred temperature data, the maximum and minimum air temperatures determined by the mothers were, on the other hand, significantly lower and higher respectively.These results suggest that the preferred temperature determined by the mothers was controlled within a narrow temperature range. There were no significant differences between the mothers and children in both mean skin temperature and rectal temperature when, as in this case, the mothers determined the maximum and minimum air temperature. However, a change in ambient air temperature did promote a faster response in the mean skin temperature for the children than for the mothers, which suggests that the children are more sensitive to surrounding this thermal relationship than do the mothers, even in a thermoneutral zone.