Abstract
BackgroundNoise, or undesirable sound, is one of the most common environmental stressors, and it can cause various health effects. Beyond the auditory consequences of occupational noise exposure, extra-auditory effects such as psychological problems have also been found. The aim of the current study is to elucidate the association between occupational noise annoyance and psychological symptoms, including symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation.MethodsA total of 10,020 participants (5,410 men and 4,610 women) were included in the current analysis, using data from the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Self-report questionnaires were used to assess noise annoyance levels, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for psychosocial symptoms were calculated using multiple logistic regression models.ResultsCompared to the no noise annoyance group, ORs (95% CI) of the severe annoyance groups were 1.58 (1.12–2.23) and 1.76 (1.29–2.40) in men and 1.49 (1.05–2.11) and 1.41 (1.01–1.97) in women for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, respectively. The ORs (95% CI) for severe noise annoyance in those with less than five hours of sleep were 2.95 (1.46–5.96) and 2.05 (1.01–4.16) in men and women, respectively, compared with those with no noise annoyance and a sleep time of more than five hours.ConclusionOur study shows that occupational noise annoyance is significantly related to mental health, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation after controlling for individual and socio-demographic characteristics even with gender stratification. However, prospective studies with quantified noise exposure assessment were needed to elucidate the causality on the association between noise annoyance and psychological symptoms.
Highlights
At its most basic, sound consists of physiological signals in the auditory system, enabling humans to communicate with both one another and the environment
A study from Japan identified a significant relationship between noise exposure and scores on a mental health assessment, including nervousness and depressive symptoms, with rates of mental illness increasing according to noise level [6]
Our study aims to examine the association between noise exposure and psychological symptoms, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, in an active working population
Summary
Sound consists of physiological signals in the auditory system, enabling humans to communicate with both one another and the environment. The study revealed that high aircraft noise resulted in both acute and chronic irritability and depressive symptoms in local residents [4] Following this discovery, additional research has suggested an association between noise exposure and mental health [5]. A study from Japan identified a significant relationship between noise exposure and scores on a mental health assessment, including nervousness and depressive symptoms, with rates of mental illness increasing according to noise level [6]. This association remained significant even after adjusting for age, gender, marital status, housing type, and length of residence in the high exposure area [6]. The aim of the current study is to elucidate the association between occupational noise annoyance and psychological symptoms, including symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation
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