Correlation between Noise Exposure and Mental Health Components among Iranian Steel Workers, 2021

Abstract

Background: Noise is an important occupational safety and health issue in many workplaces. Noise annoyance is a strong measurable mental response. It is a reaction that a person expresses to the noise exposure. Thus, this study investigates the correlation between noise exposure and its annoyance in terms of mental health components. Materials and Methods: This was a correlational descriptive study conducted on 100 workers. Respondents were recruited by a simple random sampling method. The equivalent sound level (LeqA) was determined using dosimetry. The numerical scale of ISO/TS 15666:2003 was used to measure noise annoyance. Mental health components were determined using the SCL-90 mental health questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 22) using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation tests. Results: The median of mental health and noise annoyance were 38 and 6.5, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between equivalent sound level (LeqA) and noise annoyance score (P<0.001, r=0.92). A significant correlation was found between mental health components (depression, anxiety, self-morbidity, obsession and compulsion, aggression, morbid fear, paranoid thoughts, psychosis, and sensitivity in interpersonal relationships) and equivalent sound level (P<0.001). Also, a significant correlation was observed between noise annoyance score and mental health components (P<0.001). Conclusion:We concluded thatin order to enhance the mental health of employees and increment efficiency and performance, it is recommended that appropriate control methods should be applied.

Association between noise exposure and noise annoyance with communication skills and cognitive triad among mine workers, Iran

“…In a study conducted in one of the mines, a significant relationship was observed between the level of noise exposure and the communication skills of workers (15), which does not match the results of the present study. Job stress is one of the factors that occurs as a result of noise exposure in the workplace and can affect communication skills (38).…”

“…Communication is one of the most important factors in improving productivity and job satisfaction. Previous evidence suggests that poor communication between people in the workplace can increase errors (15). In addition, as previously mentioned, noise can cause mental disorders and depression.…”

“…Approximately 10 million workers in China are exposed to impermissible noise (1). Statistics indicated that about 2 million workers in Iran are exposed to impermissible noise (2).…”

Analysis of the Relationships between Noise Exposure and Stress/Arousal Mood at Different Levels of Workload

“…Also people with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, congenital hearing impairment and any use of antidepressant drugs were excluded from the study [14], at the conclusion of the study, 50 workers were chosen for the exposed group and 50 workers were chosen for the control group (refer to Eq. ( 1)) [21,22]. The participants were included in the study after giving their informed consent.…”

Application of Genetic Algorithms in Health Sciences

“…In general, the adverse effects of sound can be divided into three categories: psychological effects, interference with activities and physiological effects [1,3]. Factors such as the level of sound exposure, the duration of exposure and the frequency spectrum determine the extent and nature of sound effects.…”