ADVERSE-EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE ON HEALTH - AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Abstract A model, including psychological constructs (e.g., coping and control), was developed to predict adverse health effects of environmental noise. To evaluate this model, a combined research strategy was adopted, including a questionnaire administered to about 2000 subjects, a medical examination of a subset of about 830 subjects, and a laboratory experiment with a subset of 24 subjects. The subjects were in every day life exposed to varying levels of military aircraft or road traffic noise. No significant relation between noise level and blood pressure was observed in this survey. Subjective health and annoyance related variables however showed a dependence upon the level of environmental noise. Subjects perceiving an internal locus of control reported fewer complaints compared to those perceiving an external locus of control. The difference, however, is independent of the noise level. Subjects exhibiting a coping style based upon avoidance, showed a higher noise sensitivity compared to those with other coping styles.