Behavioral and Emotional Disorders and Transportation Noise among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Children and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to environmental influences such as noise which can affect mental well-being. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of transportation noise on behavioral and emotional disorders in children and adolescents using a meta-analytic approach. Therefore, we searched four databases (Pubmed, Embase, PsychINFO, and PSYNDEX) and grey literature until February of 2019. We identified 14 articles from 10 studies examining the effect of transportation noise exposure on the mental health of children. These studies predominately used the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and mainly focused on schoolchildren and adolescents aged 9–10 years and 15–17 years in Europe. Three studies could be included in the meta-analysis. In sum, the odds for hyperactivity/inattention and total difficulties was significantly increased by 11% (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.11 (95% Confidence Interval, CI 1.04–1.19), respectively 9% (95% CI 1.02–1.16) per 10 dB road traffic noise. Thus, we obtained evidence for an effect of road traffic noise on hyperactivity/inattention and total difficulties, although we could consider few studies. Future studies are needed that use similar techniques to assess outcomes and exposures at schools and in homes. This would make it possible to conduct an individual participant data pooled analysis of the data.

Evidence for Environmental Noise Effects on Health for the United Kingdom Policy Context: A Systematic Review of the Effects of Environmental Noise on Mental Health, Wellbeing, Quality of Life, Cancer, Dementia, Birth, Reproductive Outcomes, and Cognition

“…For children and adolescents, a systematic review published whilst the current review was conducted [55] undertook a meta-analysis of three studies finding a harmful effect of road traffic noise on hyperactivity/inattention and total difficulties score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire [56] but no effect for conduct problems or emotional symptoms. The current review has concluded that there is low quality evidence for a harmful effect for emotional and conduct disorders, and hyperactivity, and very low-quality evidence for no effect for ADHD.…”

“…However, the reviews differ in methodology, as Schubert et al, 2019 did not undertake the GRADE assessment but has the advantage of conducting meta-analyses albeit on a very small number of studies. All the reviews of the field of environmental noise effects on mental health identify the need for more studies that use similar outcomes and techniques [6,54,55,57]. At present, taken as a whole, the evidence suggests there are harmful effects of noise on mental health for children and adolescents: further studies will help to clarify whether this relationship holds for the wide variety of childhood mental health outcomes that have been investigated.…”

Auswirkungen von Umweltrisikofaktoren wie Lärm und Luftverschmutzung auf die psychische Gesundheit: Was wissen wir?

“…Lärminduzierte mentale und Verhaltensstörungen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen war ebenfalls Gegenstand einer aktuellen Metaanalyse und eines systematischen Übersichtsartikels [17,18]. Die Metaanalyse von 3 Querschnittstudien (n = 48 730) ergab eine OR von 1,11 (95 %-KI 1,04-1,19) für Hyperaktivität/Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit bzw.…”

“…eine OR von 1,09 (95 %-KI 1,02-1,16) für die Summe der Verhaltensstörungen (z. B. emotionale Symptome, Hyperaktivität/Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit und Peerbeziehungsprobleme) pro Zunahme um 10 dB(A) L den durch Straßenverkehrslärm [17]. Allerdings konnte aufgrund der heterogenen Ergebnislage keine eindeutige Schlussfolgerung hinsichtlich der psychischen Auswirkungen wie Depression und Angst getroffen werden [18].…”

The Predictive Role of Affectivity, Self-Esteem and Social Support in Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

“…Many risk factors for emotional disorders have been proposed from several different points of view. In this regard, a vast group of variables has been listed, including biological, temperamental, psycho-social, socio-contextual, and environmental ones [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. The specific impact of these variables and their differential participation in predicting depression and anxiety disorders are still the subject of research controversies [ 11 ].…”