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2024 Vol.31, Issue 6 Preview Page

Research Article

Thermal Perception and Winter Wearing Habits among Young Adults in Northern and Southern China

중국 남방 및 북방 청년의 겨울 의생활 및 온열 인식

Do-Hee Kim13
,
Ja Min2
,
ChengZhu Jin3
,
Jung-Woo Oh Jung-WooOh45
,
Joo-Young Lee167*
김 도희13
,
민 자2
,
Jin ChengZhu3
,
오 정우45
,
이 주영167*
1Research Institute for Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
2Center for International Education and Development, Keimyung University, Daegu, Korea
3College of Sports, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
4Department of Teaching and Learning Development, Baengnyeong High School, Incheon, Korea
5Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
6Department of Fashion and Textiles, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
7Graphene Research Center for Convergence Technology, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, Suwon, Korea
1서울대학교 생활과학연구소
2계명대학교 국제사업센터
3College of Sports, Yanbian University
4백령고등학교 연구부
5서울대학교 체육교육과
6서울대학교 의류학과
7차세대융합과학기술원 그래핀융합기술연구센터
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2024. pp. 562-575
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Abstract

This study investigated the winter clothing habits, thermoregulatory behaviors, and thermal perception of young adults in the contrasting climates of Northern and Southern China. The survey included 514 respondents (181 males and 333 females) aged 20 to 39 who resided for over five years in either Northern (Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang) or Southern China (Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, and Shanghai). Findings showed that Southern respondents were more likely than their Northern counterparts to perceive themselves as wearing heavier clothing than others during winter (males: 72.9% for the Southern vs. 55.0% for the Northern; females: 77.8% vs. 67.2%, p < 0.05), and relied more on portable heating devices such as hot packs (males: 28.6% vs. 9.0%; females: 36.1% vs. 22.2%, p < 0.01). In terms of self-identified cold vulnerability, Southern females reported higher vulnerability to cold compared to Northern females (66.0% vs. 50.3%, p < 0.05). Southern respondents reported feeling cold at higher temperatures than their Northern counterparts (males: 7.3 ± 10.5°C vs. –9.9 ± 8.8°C; females: 9.9 ± 6.9°C vs. –8.2 ± 8.4°C, p < 0.001). A significant sex difference was observed for the Southern, where females reported feeling cold at higher temperatures than males (p < 0.01). The proportion of respondents who preferred indoor temperatures above 24°C during winter was lower in the Southern region compared to the Northern region (males: 50% vs. 82%; females: 66% vs. 84%, p < 0.001). These regional differences reflect adaptations to the local climate and heating systems and suggest that long-term exposure to both indoor and outdoor thermal environments affects thermal perception and thermoregulatory behaviors.

Keywords
Thermal perception
Wearing habits
Outdoor thermal environment
Indoor thermal environment
District heating
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Living Environmental System
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국생활환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of The Korean Society of Living Environmental System
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국생활환경학회
  • Volume : 31
  • No :6
  • Pages :562-575
  • Received Date : 2024-12-16
  • Revised Date : 2024-12-27
  • Accepted Date : 2024-12-31
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.21086/ksles.2024.12.31.6.562
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