Conference proceeding
Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality in Educational Settings: Insights in level of stress, attention and engagement
Building Technology Educators’ Society, v 2025(1)
2025
Abstract
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) significantly influences cognitive engagement, stress, and overall well-being in educational settings. This study examines the effects of three key IEQ factors—air temperature, relative humidity, and natural light—on students' attention and relaxation using electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring in a controlled environment. Twelve participants engaged in experimental sessions under four scenarios: baseline conditions, exposure to natural light, increased humidity, and elevated temperature. Objective EEG metrics were complemented by environmental data, including air temperature, relative humidity, lighting levels, and carbon dioxide concentrations. The results reveal distinct effects of IEQ factors on cognitive and physiological responses. Exposure to natural light improved relaxation but reduced attention, indicating its restorative effects on stress recovery while potentially introducing distractions. High humidity levels negatively impacted both attention and comfort, reinforcing the challenges associated with exceeding recommended humidity ranges. Elevated temperatures enhanced attention but slightly impaired relaxation, suggesting that warmth may promote cognitive engagement at the cost of minor discomfort. Baseline conditions recorded the highest attention levels, underscoring the value of stable and unaltered environments in fostering focus. These findings demonstrate the nuanced interplay between environmental parameters and their psychophysiological impacts. This research highlights the importance of understanding how variations in IEQ factors influence mental states in learning spaces. While individual factors have distinct effects, the dynamic interaction between air temperature, relative humidity, and lighting requires careful consideration to create environments that support both cognitive performance and emotional well-being. These insights contribute to the growing body of knowledge on designing effective and student-friendly educational environments.
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Details
- Title
- Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality in Educational Settings: Insights in level of stress, attention and engagement
- Creators
- Marjan Miri - Drexel University, Architecture, Design, and UrbanismCarlos Faubel Alama - Drexel University, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental EngineeringAntonio Martinez-Molina - Drexel University, Architecture, Design, and Urbanism
- Publication Details
- Building Technology Educators’ Society, v 2025(1)
- Conference
- Building Technology Educators’ Society (BTES) Conference 2025
- Publisher
- University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Other Identifier
- 991022199650404721