Effects of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Noise Exposure on Tinnitus Occurrence in College Students and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Recent research indicated that young adults and adolescents reported tinnitus in highernumbers than previously. Thus, it is important to fully investigate risk factors for tinnitus in adolescentsand young adults.<br />Purpose: The current study examined the influence of two environmental risk factors, secondhandsmoke (SHS) exposure and noise exposure on tinnitus occurrence as self-reported by U.S. adolescentsand young adults.<br />Research Design: A nonexperimental, cross-sectional design was used for this survey study.<br />Study Sample: Of 265 surveys received, 43 were excluded due to ineligibility. The remaining 222 surveysconstituted the study sample. Participant respondents included 80 high school students (ages14–17) and 142 college students (ages 18–30). The sample was primarily female (n = 160).<br />Data Collection and Analysis: Three (3) yes/no survey questions regarding SHS exposure, noise exposure,and tinnitus occurrence were analyzed. Statistical analyses included logistic regression, chisquarefollow-up tests, and Pearson bivariate correlation analysis.<br />Results: Results revealed that 40 percent of young adults and adolescents surveyed reported that they experiencedtinnitus. Regression analysis revealed significant main effects for noise (p = 0.004), gender (p =0.017), and the interaction of SHS and noise (p = 0.001). There was no main effect of SHS exposurenor age on tinnitus occurrence. Follow-up chi-square analysis conducted to probe the gender effectrevealed that females (45.1 percent) were more likely to experience tinnitus than males (27.7 percent). Chi-squaretesting to examine the significant interaction effect revealed statistical significance (p = 0.001) for individualswith reported noise exposure but not for individuals without noise exposure. In the noise-exposedgroup, individuals who also reported SHS exposure had a lower occurrence of tinnitus (23.6 percent). In contrast,the noise-exposed individuals without SHS exposure had a higher prevalence of tinnitus (57.9 percent).An additional chi-square follow-up analysis to examine the main effect of noise revealed no significance(p = 0.199). However, there was a significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation (r = –0.244) of noise exposurewith age.<br />Conclusion: The current study results suggest there is a higher than expected report of tinnitus incidencein adolescents and young adults. The relationship between tinnitus occurrence and a combinedexposure to noise and secondhand smoke revealed a unique effect in adolescents and young adults.<br />