Perception of crowding among children and adolescents

The effects of spatial orientation (closed vs. open) and furniture arrangement (side vs. central) on Indian children's (6 to 8 years) and adolescents' (16 to 18 years) perceptions of crowding were studied, using Desor's (1972) Crowding Perception Test. The results indicated that spatial orientation and furniture arrangement had different effects on children's and adolescents' perceptions of crowding. The children perceived less crowding than the adolescents did, and central furniture arrangement was perceived as more crowded than side furniture arrangement was.