Date of Publication :5th April 2026

Abstract: The research examines the relationship between age and clothing insulation in naturally ventilated living rooms within high-density estates developed by the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC) in the Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. The research relies on principles of the Adaptive Comfort Model and Environmental Possibilism, which recognise human behaviour as a critical factor in assessing the quality of the environment. It is a short-term research, involving a cross-sectional survey, using structured questionnaires administered in the evenings between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM, across naturally ventilated living rooms in the two ESHDC high-density estates in the Metropolis, between June and August 2024, coinciding with the peak period of the rainy season in southern Nigeria. It employs a stratified sampling technique, resulting in a proportional sample of 130 respondents, and of 130 living rooms randomly chosen from the sampling frame of 433 housing units. The bivariate analyses based on a confidence error of p ≤ 0.05, revealed the following key findings: 1.) No significant relationship between Occupant Age (OA) and Type of Cloth Insulation (TCI), as p = 0.772 (>0.05), contradicting the assumption that older persons prefer layered clothing for warmth. This result highlights the need for further research on the impact of age and clothing on thermal comfort in the warm-humid tropical climates. 2.) Positive and significant correlations with environmental variables such as the air temperature, air movement and humidity conditions. The outcomes underscore the importance of environmental quality for improving the thermal satisfaction of the active ageing population. The research recommended that an understanding of age/ageing and clothing insulation in the built environment could enhance environmental quality, promote the quality of life of the active age, thereby reducing disability and dependence associated with age/ageing globally.

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