Tropical climate influences affects, sensation of fatigue and environmental perceptions (El clima tropical influye sobre los afectos, la sensación de fatiga y las percepciones del medio ambiente)

Abstract

The current experimental study evaluated how a tropical climate (i.e., wet and hot environment) influences positive and negative affects, sensation of fatigue and environmental perceptions (i.e., comfort and thermal sensations). A convenience sampling of students (30 females and 30 males, M age = 21.94 years, age range: 19-28 years) who lived all the year in the French West Indies performed two conditions in Tropical Climate (TC) and in Neutral Climate (NC), counterbalanced. During each climate condition, they completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and a questionnaire evaluating feeling of fatigue, thermal and comfort sensations. This original study revealed that TC reduces positive affect (PA) scores, whereas no significant statistical difference was revealed for negative affect (NA). In addition, participants revealed lower thermal and comfort sensations and a greater feeling of fatigue in TC than in NC. These results are in line with the suggestion that TC can negatively influence subjective states compared with a temperate climate. Moreover, TC could also have a potential fatigue-enhancing effect and negatively influences comfort sensations. The impact of TC on affective states is discussed. RESUMENEl presente estudio experimental evaluó cómo el clima tropical (esto es, un clima húmedo y cálido) influye sobre los afectos positivos y negativos, la sensación de fatiga y las percepciones del medio ambiente (esto es, confort y sensación térmica). Se asignó equilibradamente en dos condiciones de Clima Tropical (CT) y Clima Neutral (CN) a una muestra de conveniencia compuesta por estudiantes (30 mujeres y 30 hombres, M edad = 21.94 años, rango de edad: 19-28 años) que viven todo el año en las Antillas francesas. Durante cada condición climática completaron el Programa de Afectos Positivos y Negativos (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) y un cuestionario que evaluaba la sensación de fatiga, y las sensaciones térmicas y de confort. Este estudio original mostró que el CT reduce las puntuaciones de afecto positivo (AP), mientras que no se encontraron diferencias ARTICLE HISTORY

Revisiting Motor Imagery Guidelines in a Tropical Climate: The Time-of-Day Effect

“…However, they did not consider the individual perception of the environment (e.g., comfort and thermal sensations) nor related psychological factors (e.g., affect and perceived fatigue), which were expected to be affected by a TC as well and to further negatively impact cognitive performance [44]. In a second separate study, Robin et al [34] showed that TCs contributed to a decrease in positive affect and thermal comfort scores and further increased fatigue and thermal sensation scores. They argued that it was certainly more pleasant for participants to be in a NC than in a TC before engaging in a MI task.…”

“…Both imagery vividness and ease, as well as the ability to achieve temporal congruence, were found to be negatively impacted compared to MI performed in a neutral climate (NC) [30,31]. TC is characterized by high average temperatures (≈27 • C) and hygrometry levels (more than 75% relative humidity in the air) that exceed evapotranspiration capacities and negatively impact motor and cognitive performances [32,33], as well as thermal comfort and perceived fatigue [34]. Over the course of the day, temperatures in a TC can range from 24 • C (±1 • C) in the early morning and evening, to over 31 • C (±2 • C) between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. [35].…”

“…An online pre-experimental questionnaire was completed to collect personal information from each participant, including gender, age, health status, physical activity level, approximate menstrual periods for women [36,37], and the number of months spent in a tropical environment [34]. In addition, the chronotype of the participants was assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire [38].…”

Impact of Contact With Nature on the Wellbeing and Nature Connectedness Indicators After a Desertic Outdoor Experience on Isla Del Tiburon

“…Findings of Watson et al (1988) despite of mentioning the concerns and limitations that could have obstructed individuals from feeling openly happy and revitalized indicate that results were presented being related to negative aspects that diminished in the experience group like reducing emotions (e.g., anguish, guilt, aggressiveness, and irritability). In Guadeloupe, Robin et al (2021) measured positive and negative aspects after being in a natural zone aiming to discover the emotional effects of being surrounded by a tropical environment, also an innovative setting where nature connectedness was assessed, presenting a climate with humid weather characteristics. Although they found that participants indicated negative feelings (e.g., fatigue, discomfort) after being surrounded by this climate, generating unpleasant emotions on people.…”

Stratégies de gestion de la chaleur et performances sportives de haut niveau : éclairage psychophysiologique et recommandations appliquées

“…De même, [18] ont montré que l'augmentation de la ventilation en condition de TE pouvait réduire le flux sanguin cérébral ce qui pouvait impacter négativement les processus d'élimination de la chaleur au niveau du cerveau et engendrer une contrainte cognitive supplémentaire pouvant nuire au traitement de certaines tâches cognitives complexes [19,20] et favoriser l'apparition de fatigue mentale [21]. De plus, et comparativement à un environnement dans lequel la température est neutre, une TE peut altérer l'état émotionnel [2 2], diminuer le confort thermique [11,23] ou augmenter les affects négatifs tels que la colère ou l'agressivité [24].…”