AbstractsEconomics

The study analyzed the impact of different degrees of density on an individual's social performance, evaluation of the residential environment, and her physical and mental health. Two eleven floor dormitories occupied by either female or male students at the Ohio State University, Columbus campus were selected. Sex and density served as independent variables, social performance as defined by self-monitoring of experience behavior and affective environmental quality defined by arousing-sleepy and unpleasant-pleasant scales represented mitigating variables while blood pressure, heart rate, a bipolar affective mood scale, and a standard index of psychiatric symptomatology were employed as dependent variables.The predicted relationship among the ability of social performance and the exhibition of less stress symptoms was not supported. Arousing and unpleasant environmental qualities were associated with increased blood pressure. In the context of this study, living in a single room was most stressful for either sex leading to concrete design recommendations. A relevant practical outcome was that 14 male and 6 female hypertension cases were identified and notified. This study receives additional importance through its method of repeated blood pressure measures with an electronic instrument.