Relationship Between Perceived Clothing Comfort and Exam Performance

Recent controlled laboratory studies have shown an effect of clothing comfort on cognitive performance. To test this relationship under naturalistic conditions, student scores on statistics exams were compared with comfort ratings. Prior to the exam, students rated their confidence in taking the exam, number of hours studied, comfort level, type of clothes being worn, and other relevant variables. To maintain naturalistic conditions, clothing was not manipulated but was self-selected. Controlling for other variables associated with exam performance, multiple regression results indicated a significant positive relationship between comfort ratings and exam scores, with the model explaining 48% of the variance in exam scores (R-2 =.48). As expected, the more formal the attire, the lower the comfort ratingof that attire and the lower the exam score. This study provides further evidence of a relationship between perceived clothing comfort and cognitive performance.