From environment to emotion: The mediating role of environmental sensation in sedentary individuals

Abstract

The impact of thermal and lighting environments on emotion has been widely studied; however, most research assumes that the environment directly affects emotional states, leaving the role of environmental sensation in emotional response largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of thermal and lighting sensations in the relationship between environmental conditions and emotional responses. We conducted an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study with sedentary individuals, who reported their subjective thermal sensation vote (TSV), illuminance sensation vote (ISV), lighting color sensation vote (CSV), and emotional states multiple times per day over five workdays. Concurrently, electrocardiogram (ECG) data were collected using wearable devices to provide an objective measure of emotional states. The findings suggested that the thermal environment does not directly affect valence or arousal but exerts its influence indirectly through thermal sensation. In contrast, correlated color temperature (CCT) has a significant direct effect on arousal and valence. Additionally, the lighting environment also influences valence indirectly by affecting thermal sensation. Further analysis revealed that TSV, ISV, and CSV all positively contribute to arousal, whereas TSV and ISV inversely affect valence. These findings provide practical implications for the design of emotion-oriented built environments, contributing to the development of occupant-centered smart buildings.