Physical Environment and Its Influence on Asthenopia: A Cross-Sectional Study among Batik Artisans in Klaten Regency, Indonesia

Cita Fitria Putri; Risa Septi Astutik; Yuliani Setyaningsih

doi:10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.29351

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.29351

Physical Environment and Its Influence on Asthenopia: A Cross-Sectional Study among Batik Artisans in Klaten Regency, Indonesia

Cita Fitria Putri

, Risa Septi Astutik, Yuliani Setyaningsih

Department of Occupational Safety and Health Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Jawa Tengah , Indonesia

Received: 9 Sep 2025; Revised: 27 Nov 2025; Accepted: 30 Mar 2026; Published: 30 Apr 2026.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

BibTex Citation Data :

@article{JPHTCR29351,
    author = {Cita Putri and Risa Astutik and Yuliani Setyaningsih},
    title = {Physical Environment and Its Influence on Asthenopia: A Cross-Sectional Study among Batik Artisans in Klaten Regency, Indonesia},
    journal = {Journal of Public Health for Tropical and Coastal Region},
  volume = {9},
    number = {1},
    year = {2026},
    keywords = {asthenopia; batik artisans; occupational health; physical environment; temperature},
    abstract = {  Introduction:  Asthenopia, or eye strain, is a prevalent issue among batik artisans in Klaten Regency, Indonesia, due to the visually demanding nature of their work and potentially suboptimal working conditions.   Methods:  This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of physical environmental factors, specifically lighting intensity, temperature, and humidity, on the occurrence of asthenopia symptoms among 155 female batik artisans. Data were collected through interviews using the Visual Fatigue Index questionnaire and environmental measurements.   Results:  Most participants (65.8%) experienced asthenopia symptoms, with an average score of 0.47 (SD ±0.15). The most common symptoms included watery eyes, stinging sensations, gritty feelings, difficulty focusing, and heavy sensations in the eyes. Spearman's rank correlation revealed a statistically significant association between ambient temperature and asthenopia complaints (p = 0.009), while no significant correlations were found for lighting intensity (p = 0.799) and humidity (p = 0.742). The average workplace temperature was 28.61°C (SD ±1.04), exceeding the recommended comfort range of 23–26°C. Although 81.9% of participants worked under lighting levels below the recommended 300 lx, this factor was not significantly associated with asthenopia.   Conclusion:  These findings highlight the importance of improving thermal comfort in traditional batik workplaces to reduce visual strain among artisans. Further research employing longitudinal and objective methodologies is recommended to better understand the complex interplay between environmental and individual factors contributing to asthenopia in this population. },
   issn = {2597-4378},   pages = {14--22}  doi = {10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.29351},
    url = {https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/jphtr/article/view/29351}
}

Citation Format:

Abstract

Introduction: Asthenopia, or eye strain, is a prevalent issue among batik artisans in Klaten Regency, Indonesia, due to the visually demanding nature of their work and potentially suboptimal working conditions.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of physical environmental factors, specifically lighting intensity, temperature, and humidity, on the occurrence of asthenopia symptoms among 155 female batik artisans. Data were collected through interviews using the Visual Fatigue Index questionnaire and environmental measurements.

Results: Most participants (65.8%) experienced asthenopia symptoms, with an average score of 0.47 (SD ±0.15). The most common symptoms included watery eyes, stinging sensations, gritty feelings, difficulty focusing, and heavy sensations in the eyes. Spearman's rank correlation revealed a statistically significant association between ambient temperature and asthenopia complaints (p = 0.009), while no significant correlations were found for lighting intensity (p = 0.799) and humidity (p = 0.742). The average workplace temperature was 28.61°C (SD ±1.04), exceeding the recommended comfort range of 23–26°C. Although 81.9% of participants worked under lighting levels below the recommended 300 lx, this factor was not significantly associated with asthenopia.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of improving thermal comfort in traditional batik workplaces to reduce visual strain among artisans. Further research employing longitudinal and objective methodologies is recommended to better understand the complex interplay between environmental and individual factors contributing to asthenopia in this population.

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Keywords: asthenopia; batik artisans; occupational health; physical environment; temperature

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Language : EN

In Vol 9, No 1 (2026): Journal of Public Health for Tropical and Coastal Region

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