This paper describes a field study that examined the relationship between objective and subjective measures of enclosure, perceived privacy, and outcome measures of stress responses and environmental satisfaction. The use of designed features of the environment (such as work space panels) as a means of controlling visual privacy was also examined. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study examined the responses of 276 workers who used systems furniture in seven buildings around the United States. The stepwise regression analyses of the data show that there is a significant relationship between objective measures of the physical environment (such as square footage, number of panels and panel heights) and privacy. Perceived enclosure is an important predictor of privacy, environmental satisfaction and stress. The analyses also revealed a significant relationship between control over the environment and perceived privacy. There were no significant relationships directly between control over visual privacy and stress symptoms. These analyses provide indications that there is a link between work space design features, perceptions of enclosure and subsequent stress reactions to the environment.
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