Abstract

This study examines the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) lanterns and partition colors on the psychological condition of individuals in evacuation shelters. A previous questionnaire survey involving 193 participants evaluated emotional responses to four LED colors (yellow, green, blue, and red). Yellow light was most frequently perceived as calming and comfortable, whereas red light was strongly associated with tension and anxiety. Building on these emotional findings, we investigated environmental factors through an experiment involving blue, pink, and green partitions. The participants stayed inside each partition for 25 min, and their vital signs, including body temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure, were measured every 5 min. The results indicate that blue partitions produced the most stable physiological responses, including lower systolic blood pressure and steady pulse rates, reflecting parasympathetic nervous system activation. In contrast, the pink and green partitions increased pulse rates and led to greater fluctuations, indicating higher stress. These findings demonstrate that appropriate lighting and partition colors can promote psychological stability and improve shelter environments. This study also highlights the importance of simple, low-cost environmental design strategies for stress reduction during prolonged evacuations.