Does Gender Matter in Perception of Indoor Environmental Quality? Findings From A Swedish National Survey

Paper in proceeding, 2022

Individuals perceive indoor spaces differently, and their requirements are subjectively defined. An analysis of the latest national survey of the stock in Sweden is conducted to describe particular aspects of indoor space in relation to gender. The objective of this study is to provide additional evidence to the existing body of knowledge concerning the existence and potential significance of gender differences on indoor environmental quality factors and overall satisfaction. The analysis is conducted in 80 apartments and 296 single-family buildings, both of which are occupied by males and females. The analysis makes use of 5 indoor environmental quality factors, which are quantified using a five-point ordinal scale. For both genders and all factors and variables evaluated, descriptive and advanced statistical analysis is performed. Different confounding variables were also investigated. The findings indicate that different genders evaluate spaces equally in the majority of cases. Additionally, an adaptation mechanism is highlighted.