Comfort

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A comfortable dog This dog is "comfy"- 2013-12-27 10-51.jpg
A comfortable dog

Comfort (or being comfortable) is a sense of physical or psychological ease, often characterised as a lack of hardship. Persons who are lacking in comfort are uncomfortable, or experiencing discomfort. A degree of psychological comfort can be achieved by recreating experiences that are associated with pleasant memories, such as engaging in familiar activities, [1] [2] maintaining the presence of familiar objects, [1] and consumption of comfort foods. Comfort is a particular concern in health care, as providing comfort to the sick and injured is one goal of healthcare, and can facilitate recovery. [3] Persons who are surrounded with things that provide psychological comfort may be described as being "in their comfort zone". Because of the personal nature of positive associations, psychological comfort is highly subjective. [3]

Contents

The use of "comfort" as a verb generally implies that the subject is in a state of pain, suffering or affliction, and requires alleviation from that state. Where the term is used to describe the support given to someone who has experienced a tragedy, the word is synonymous with consolation or solace. However, comfort is used much more broadly, as one can provide physical comfort to someone who is not in a position to be uncomfortable. For example, a person might sit in a chair without discomfort, but still find the addition of a pillow to the chair to increase their feeling of comfort. Something that provides this type of comfort, which does not seek to relieve hardship, can also be referred to as being "comfy".

Concepts

Rama comforts Sita Rama comforts Sita.jpg
Rama comforts Sita

There are various psychological studies about the feeling of comfort, and they have resulted in a few conclusions. The idea of comfort varies among each person; however, there are a few universal themes of comfort that apply to everyone. Most of these universal themes falls under the physical comfort such as contact comfort, comfort food, and thermal comfort.

Contact comfort

Contact comfort is satisfaction with someone's touch, like a parent's embrace. This is essential to a child's development.

Harry Harlow study

One of the most famous developmental psychological studies is Harry Harlow's development experiment with monkeys. He separated baby monkeys at birth and raised them with surrogate mothers. There were two types of surrogate mothers: a metal wire one, and one covered with cloth. Each was equipped with a nozzle from which the baby monkeys could "breast" feed. The surrogate mother covered in cloth represented comfort. At the end of the experiment, the psychologist saw that the monkeys would choose the cloth surrogate over the wire surrogate. They concluded that having basic needs is essential, but there is the need for closeness and affection. [4]

This experiment justified that importance of comfort and warmth for child development. All the monkeys that grew up from the experiment expressed a behavior of aggression and atypical sexual behaviors. [4]

Comfort food

Comfort foods are foods intentionally consumed to move the eater into a pleasurable state. This could be credited to food preferences and childhood experiences (like a parent's cooking).

Physiological responses

Comfort food is usually chosen because of previous experiences of happiness linked with it. For example, chocolate is held as a popular comfort food as it is followed by the pleasurable sweetness and the positive association with gifts/rewards. [5]

The time of day also play a role in consuming comfort foods. Most people tend to eat simply because "it's lunch time" and only 20% of the time is due to actual hunger. [6]

Popular comfort foods [7]
Favorite
comfort
foods		Percent mentioning
item as their
favorite comfort food
Snack-
related
foods		 Potato chips 23
Ice cream 14
Cookies 12
Candy/chocolate 11
Meal-
related
foods		 Pasta or pizza 11
Steak or beef burgers 9
Casseroles or side dishes 9
Vegetables or salads 7
Soup 4

Food preferences

Food preferences split into two categories: snack-related and meal-related. If a child was exposed to many snacks growing up, they may focus on more snack-related comfort foods later on in life. [8]

Food preference ranges through male/female, and younger/older. Females and the young demographic prefer snack-related comfort foods, while the male and older demographic prefer meal-related comfort foods. [8]

Thermal comfort

Comfort level average on the temperature Comfort level x temperature Chart.jpg
Comfort level average on the temperature

Thermal comfort is a satisfaction of the ambient air temperature and humidity. Psychologists devised a study to determine the most comfortable temperature. The study had people answering a survey as the temperature changed around them. From the surveys, psychologist found many people had no opinion of a range of temperature. This was labeled temperature neutrality, which is the rate that the person's metabolism is shifting the same rate as the surrounding temperature. The average comfortable temperature is 30 °C (86 °F). Temperatures too hot (35 °C (95 °F) and above) and temperatures too low (12 °C (54 °F) and below) are considered uncomfortable to many people. [9]

Thermal neutrality

Thermal neutrality (thermal neutral zone) is the temperature range where it is neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. The human body's metabolism is burning calories at the same rate as the temperature around. This would be around 24 °C (75 °F) (room temperature), and people have no opinion about the temperature. [9] Thermal neutrality is often also used in animal raising. For example, farmers maintain the neutral temperature for cattle to prevent cold stress. [10]

Everyday uses

Clothing comfort

A baby wearing many items of winter clothing: headband, cap, fur-lined coat, scarf and sweater Well-clothed baby.jpg
A baby wearing many items of winter clothing: headband, cap, fur-lined coat, scarf and sweater

Comfort is related to various perceptions, physiological, social, and psychological needs, and after food, clothing is one of the significant objects that suffices for comfort requirements. Clothing provides aesthetic, tactile, thermal, moisture, and pressure comfort. [12]

Other types of comfort

Human comfort can also be categorized by areas such visual comfort, acoustic comfort, and respiratory comfort. [32]

Visual comfort is defined as "the state of mind that expresses satisfaction with the visual environment." [33] This type of comfort can be achieved when an individual has a sufficient amount of light to perform an activity or task. It is possible for both low and high levels of light to create discomfort.

Acoustic comfort is a state of being where noise levels are not harming or interfering with the activities of individuals in some area.

Respiratory comfort is achieved in an environment where the air breathed is of sufficiently high quality. In indoor spaces this type of comfort can be predicted by the indoor air quality (IAQ). [34] IAQ is dependent on the quantity of pollutants in the air, the ventilation rate, and the turnover rate of pollutants. In outdoor spaces respiratory comfort can be associated with the air quality index.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing</span> Objects worn to cover the body

Clothing is any item worn on the body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin sheets of materials and natural products found in the environment, put together. The wearing of clothing is mostly restricted to human beings and is a feature of all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn depends on gender, body type, social factors, and geographic considerations. Garments cover the body, footwear covers the feet, gloves cover the hands, while hats and headgear cover the head, and underwear covers the private parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile</span> Various fiber-based materials

Textile is an umbrella term that includes various fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, filaments, threads, different fabric types, etc. At first, the word "textiles" only referred to woven fabrics. However, weaving is not the only manufacturing method, and many other methods were later developed to form textile structures based on their intended use. Knitting and non-woven are other popular types of fabric manufacturing. In the contemporary world, textiles satisfy the material needs for versatile applications, from simple daily clothing to bulletproof jackets, spacesuits, and doctor's gowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spandex</span> Synthetic fibre known for its elasticity

Spandex, Lycra, or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is a polyether-polyurea copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Room temperature</span> Range of indoor air temperatures preferred by most people

Room temperature, colloquially, denotes the range of air temperatures most people find comfortable indoors while dressed in typical clothing. Comfortable temperatures can be extended beyond this range depending on humidity, air circulation, and other factors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dyeing</span> Process of adding color to textile products

Dyeing is the application of dyes or pigments on textile materials such as fibers, yarns, and fabrics with the goal of achieving color with desired color fastness. Dyeing is normally done in a special solution containing dyes and particular chemical material. Dye molecules are fixed to the fiber by absorption, diffusion, or bonding with temperature and time being key controlling factors. The bond between the dye molecule and fiber may be strong or weak, depending on the dye used. Dyeing and printing are different applications; in printing, color is applied to a localized area with desired patterns. In dyeing, it is applied to the entire textile.

Polybenzimidazole (PBI, short for poly[2,2’-(m-phenylen)-5,5’-bisbenzimidazole]) fiber is a synthetic fiber with a very high decomposition temperature. It does not exhibit a melting point, it has exceptional thermal and chemical stability, and it does not readily ignite. It was first discovered by American polymer chemist Carl Shipp Marvel in the pursuit of new materials with superior stability, retention of stiffness, and toughness at elevated temperature. Due to its high stability, polybenzimidazole is used to fabricate high-performance protective apparel such as firefighter's gear, astronaut space suits, high temperature protective gloves, welders’ apparel and aircraft wall fabrics. Polybenzimidazole has been applied as a membrane in fuel cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermal comfort</span> Satisfaction with the thermal environment

Thermal comfort is the condition of mind that expresses subjective satisfaction with the thermal environment. The human body can be viewed as a heat engine where food is the input energy. The human body will release excess heat into the environment, so the body can continue to operate. The heat transfer is proportional to temperature difference. In cold environments, the body loses more heat to the environment and in hot environments the body does not release enough heat. Both the hot and cold scenarios lead to discomfort. Maintaining this standard of thermal comfort for occupants of buildings or other enclosures is one of the important goals of HVAC design engineers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Technical textile</span> Textile product valued for its functional characteristics

"Technical textile" refers to a category of textiles specifically engineered and manufactured to serve functional purposes beyond traditional apparel and home furnishing applications. These textiles are designed with specific performance characteristics and properties, making them suitable for various industrial, medical, automotive, aerospace, and other technical applications. Unlike conventional textiles used for clothing or decoration, technical textiles are optimized to offer qualities such as strength, durability, flame resistance, chemical resistance, moisture management, and other specialized functionalities to meet the specific needs of diverse industries and sectors.

Clothing insulation is the thermal insulation provided by clothing.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy is an American National Standard published by ASHRAE that establishes the ranges of indoor environmental conditions to achieve acceptable thermal comfort for occupants of buildings. It was first published in 1966, and since 2004 has been updated every three to six years. The most recent version of the standard was published in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hand feel</span> Feel of the fabrics to the skin or hand

Hand feel is the property of fabrics related to the touch that expresses sensory comfort. It refers to the way fabrics feel against the skin or in the hand and conveys information about the cloth's softness and smoothness. Hand feel is an estimated and subjective property of different fabrics, but nowadays, hand feel could be measured and assessed statistically.

Plated fabrics are fabrics that have different colors or types of face and back. The fabrics are formed by using different kinds of yarn types or colors to both be invisible on the other side. Different properties of several textile fibers are exploited to obtain various surface interests and patterns. One of the aspects is the thermophysiological and moisture comfort of clothing.

Moisture management or moisture-wicking is a functional property in textiles that enables them to transfer moisture from the skin, by capillary action through the fabric, spreading it over a large external surface area, which helps in drying quickly. The property is one of the most important for thermal comfort of textiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile performance</span> Fitness for purpose of textiles

Textile performance, also known as fitness for purpose, is a textile's capacity to withstand various conditions, environments, and hazards, qualifying it for particular uses. The performance of textile products influences their appearance, comfort, durability, and protection. Different textile applications require a different set of performance parameters. As a result, the specifications determine the level of performance of a textile product. Textile testing certifies the product's conformity to buying specification. It describes product manufactured for non-aesthetic purposes, where fitness for purpose is the primary criterion. Engineering of high-performance fabrics presents a unique set of challenges.

A blend is a mixture of two or more fibers. In yarn spinning, different compositions, lengths, diameters, or colors may be combined to create a blend. Blended textiles are fabrics or yarns produced with a combination of two or more types of different fibers, or yarns to obtain desired traits and aesthetics. Blending is possible at various stages of textile manufacturing. The term, blend, refers to spun fibers or a fabric composed of such fibers. There are several synonymous terms: a combination yarn is made up of two strands of different fibers twisted together to form a ply; a mixture or mixed cloth refers to blended cloths in which different types of yarns are used in warp and weft sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aesthetics (textile)</span> Concept of serviceability of textiles

Aesthetics in textiles is one of the basic concepts of serviceability of textiles. It is determined by the perception of touch and sight. Aesthetics imply the appearance and attraction of textile products; it includes the color and texture of the material. It is a statement about the end user (consumer) and the target market. When combined with fabric construction, the finish of the clothing material, garment fit, style, and fashion compatibility, colours create an aesthetic comfort. All of these elements work together to satisfy our visual perception. Aesthetics incorporates the role of evaluation also.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile testing</span> Process of measuring the properties and performance of textiles

Textile testing is the process of measuring the properties and performance of textile materials—textile testing includes physical and chemical testing of raw materials to finished products.

Cold pad batch (CPB) is a method of dyeing textiles, typically cellulosic fibers such as cotton, in which the textile is impregnated with dye in a cold state, rather than being heated. High dye fixation and no thermal energy are the advantages of the CPB process. CPB-dyed fabrics are less expensive, have a softer hand feel, and have a cleaner surface than exhaust dyed materials. The process may take up to 12 hours in the batching process, depending on the depth of the shade. The disadvantage is that batching is a time-consuming and lengthy process. The process was developed in 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing physiology</span> Study of clothings interaction with the human body

Clothing physiology is a branch of science that studies the interaction between clothing and the human body, with a particular focus on how clothing affects the physiological and psychological responses of individuals to different environmental conditions. The goal of clothing physiology research is to develop a better understanding of how clothing can be designed to optimize comfort, performance, and protection for individuals in various settings, including outdoor recreation, occupational environments, and medical contexts.

Military textile science is the study and development of technical textiles used by defense forces on land, sea, and air. The products derived from this field of study are designated as military textiles.This field includes various types of textiles, such as woven, knitted, nonwoven, coated, laminated, and composite materials, all designed to meet the specific needs of military operations. The focus is on creating textiles that are lightweight, durable, and effective in providing comfort, protection, and survival in challenging environments.

References

  1. 1 2 Daniel Miller, The Comfort of Things (2009).
  2. ↑ Abbott, Ernest Hamlin; Abbott, Lyman; Bellamy, Francis Rufus; Mabie, Hamilton Wright (1919). The Outlook.
  3. 1 2 Katharine Kolcaba, Comfort Theory and Practice: A Vision for Holistic Health Care and Research (2003). ISBN   9780826116338.
  4. 1 2 Schultheis, Erin (May 1999). "Harry F. Harlow (1906 - 1981)". Muskingum University. Archived from the original on 2016-12-07. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  5. ↑ Barthel, Diane (August 1989). "Modernism and Marketing: The Chocolate Box Revisited". Theory, Culture & Society. 6 (3): 429–438. doi:10.1177/026327689006003004. S2CID   144486806.
  6. ↑ Tuomisto, T; Tuomisto, MT; Hetherington, M; Lappalainen, R (1998-04-01). "Reasons for Initiation and Cessation of Eating in Obese Men and Women and the Affective Consequences of Eating in Everyday Situations". Appetite. 30 (2): 211–222. doi:10.1006/appe.1997.0142. PMID   9573454. S2CID   25632151.
  7. ↑ Wansink, Brian; Cheney, Matthew M.; Chan, Nina (2003-08-27). "Exploring comfort food preferences across age and gender". Physiology & Behavior. 79 (4–5): 739–747. doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00203-8. PMID   12954417. S2CID   14248350.
  8. 1 2 Wansink, Brian; Cheney, Matthew M.; Chan, Nina (2003-09-01). "Exploring comfort food preferences across age and gender". Physiology & Behavior. 79 (4–5): 739–747. doi:10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00203-8. PMID   12954417. S2CID   14248350.
  9. 1 2 3 Gagge, A. P.; Stolwijk, J. A. J.; Hardy, J. D. (1967-06-01). "Comfort and thermal sensations and associated physiological responses at various ambient temperatures". Environmental Research. 1 (1): 1–20. Bibcode:1967ER......1....1G. doi:10.1016/0013-9351(67)90002-3. PMID   5614624.
  10. ↑ "Explain the concepts of thermoneutral zone, lower critical temperature, and upper critical temperature, and how they relate to metabolic rate - eXtension". articles.extension.org. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  11. ↑ "Ventilation". Department of Energy. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  12. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Oxford Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Woodhead Publishing. p. 22. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  13. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing. p. 440. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  14. ↑ "Aesthetic Comfort - an overview". ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  15. ↑ Lyle, Dorothy Siegert (1982). Modern textiles . Internet Archive. New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 29. ISBN   978-0-471-07805-0.
  16. ↑ Cubrić, Ivana Salopek; Skenderi, Zenun (March 2013). "Evaluating thermophysiological comfort using the principles of sensory analysis". Collegium Antropologicum. 37 (1): 57–64. ISSN   0350-6134. PMID   23697251.
  17. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011-01-20). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Elsevier. p. 114. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  18. ↑ Stevens, Katy (2008). Thermophysiological comfort and water resistant protection in soft shell protective garments. University of Leeds (School of Design).
  19. ↑ Textile Trends. Eastland Publications. 2001. p. 16.
  20. ↑ Pre-print of Conference Proceedings: Textile Institute 1988 Annual World Conference, Sydney, Australia, 10-13 July. Textile Institute. 1988. p. 9. ISBN   978-1-870812-08-5.
  21. ↑ Ruckman, J.E.; Murray, R.; Choi, H.S. (1999-01-01). "Engineering of clothing systems for improved thermophysiological comfort: The effect of openings". International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology. 11 (1): 37–52. doi:10.1108/09556229910258098. ISSN   0955-6222.
  22. ↑ Varshney, R. K.; Kothari, V. K.; Dhamija, S. (2010-05-17). "A study on thermophysiological comfort properties of fabrics in relation to constituent fibre fineness and cross-sectional shapes". The Journal of the Textile Institute. 101 (6): 495–505. doi:10.1080/00405000802542184. ISSN   0040-5000. S2CID   135786524.
  23. ↑ Collier, Billie J. (2000). Understanding textiles . Internet Archive. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall. p. 539. ISBN   978-0-13-021951-0.
  24. ↑ Gagge, A. P.; Stolwijk, J. A. J.; Hardy, J. D. (1967-06-01). "Comfort and thermal sensations and associated physiological responses at various ambient temperatures". Environmental Research. 1 (1): 1–20. Bibcode:1967ER......1....1G. doi:10.1016/0013-9351(67)90002-3. PMID   5614624.
  25. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 149, 166. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  26. ↑ Au, K.F. (2011). Advances in Knitting Technology. Woodhead Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84569-372-5.
  27. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 167, 192, 208. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  28. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 223, 235, 237, 427. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  29. ↑ Das, A.; Alagirusamy, R. (2011-01-01). "Improving tactile comfort in fabrics and clothing". Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing Series in Textiles: 216–244. doi:10.1533/9780857090645.2.216. ISBN   978-1-84569-539-2.
  30. ↑ Song, Guowen (2011). Improving Comfort in Clothing. Woodhead Publishing. pp. 25, 235, 432. ISBN   978-0-85709-064-5.
  31. ↑ "Pressure Comfort - an overview". ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved 2021-05-30.
  32. ↑ Song, Ying; Mao, Fubing; Liu, Qing (2019). "Human Comfort in Indoor Environment: A Review on Assessment Criteria, Data Collection and Data Analysis Methods". IEEE Access. 7: 119774–119786. Bibcode:2019IEEEA...7k9774S. doi:10.1109/access.2019.2937320. hdl: 10356/137876 . Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  33. ↑ Steemers, Koen (1994-08-01). "Daylighting design: Enhancing energy efficiency and visual quality". Renewable Energy. Climate change Energy and the environment. 5 (5–8): 950–958. Bibcode:1994REne....5..950S. doi:10.1016/0960-1481(94)90116-3. ISSN   0960-1481.
  34. ↑ Jones, A. P. (1999-12-01). "Indoor air quality and health". Atmospheric Environment. 33 (28): 4535–4564. Bibcode:1999AtmEn..33.4535J. doi:10.1016/S1352-2310(99)00272-1. ISSN   1352-2310.
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