The Association between Road Traffic Noise Exposure, Annoyance and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL)

Harris Héritier, Danielle Vienneau, Patrizia Frei, Ikenna C. Eze, Mark Brink, Nicole Probst-Hensch and Martin Röösli
Additional contact information
Harris Héritier: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Danielle Vienneau: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Patrizia Frei: Krebsliga Schweiz, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
Ikenna C. Eze: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Mark Brink: Federal Office for the Environment, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
Nicole Probst-Hensch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
Martin Röösli: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstr. 57, P.O. Box, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between road traffic noise exposure, annoyance caused by different noise sources and validated health indicators in a cohort of 1375 adults from the region of Basel, Switzerland. Road traffic noise exposure for each study participant was determined using modelling, and annoyance from various noise sources was inquired by means of a four-point Likert scale. Regression parameters from multivariable regression models for the von Zerssen score of somatic symptoms (point symptom score increase per annoyance category) showed strongest associations with annoyance from industry noise (2.36, 95% CI: 1.54, 3.17), neighbour noise (1.62, 95% CI: 1.17, 2.06) and road traffic noise (1.53, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.96). Increase in modelled noise exposure by 10 dB(A) resulted in a von Zerssen symptom score increase of 0.47 (95% CI: ?0.01, 0.95) units. Subsequent structural equation modelling revealed that the association between physical noise exposure and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is strongly mediated by annoyance and sleep disturbance. This study elucidates the complex interplay of different factors for the association between physical noise exposure and HRQOL.

Keywords: noise; exposure; annoyance; health indicators; von Zerssen; SF-36; quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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