Noise sensitivity and reactions to noise and other environmental conditions

Abstract

This article integrates findings from the literature and new results regarding noise sensitivity. The new results are based on analyses of 28 combined datasets (N = 23,038), and separate analyses of a large aircraft noise study (N = 10,939). Three topics regarding noise sensitivity are discussed, namely, its relationship with noise exposure, its working mechanism, and the scope of its influence. (1) A previous review found that noise sensitivity has no relationship with noise exposure. The current analyses give consistent results, and show that there is at most a very weak positive relationship. (2) It was observed earlier that noise sensitivity alters the effect of noise exposure on noise annoyance, and does not (only) have an additive effect. The current analyses confirm this, and show that the relation of the annoyance score with the noise exposure is relatively flat for nonsensitives while it is steeper for sensitives. (3) Previous studies showed that noise sensitivity also influences reactions other than noise annoyance. The current analyses of the aircraft noise study extend these results, but also indicate that noise sensitivity has relatively little influence on reactions to nonenvironmental conditions.

Impact of noise on self-rated job satisfaction and health in open-plan offices: a structural equation modelling approach

“…This is not consistent with one previous study (Miedema and Vos, 2003), which demonstrated that noise sensitivity negatively impacts and disturbs conversations. However, there are significant differences between this study and the previous study in terms of the location of noise exposure and the noise sources.…”

“…Miedema and Vos (2003) found a significant difference in conversation disturbances between low and high sensitivity groups at high noise exposure levels. A recent study reported that noise sensitivity was related to subjective health complaints such as sleep problems and nervousness (Fyhri and Aasvang, 2010).…”

“…Many field studies used a single item to measure self-reported noise sensitivity (Miedema and Vos, 2003;Fyhri and Klaeboe, 2009;Fyhri and Aasvang, 2010). In particular, Miedema and Vos (2003) investigated the relationship between noise sensitivity and reactions to noise through a meta-analysis of 28 field studies. All the study assessed noise sensitivity using a single item question.…”

“…Research has shown that noise sensitivity has a strong relationship with perceived annoyance caused by indoor noises as well as environmental noises (Fields, 1993;Job, 1999;Miedema and Vos, 2003;Jakovljevic et al, 2009;Ryu and Jeon, 2011;Pierrette et al, 2014). Miedema and Vos (2003) found a significant difference in conversation disturbances between low and high sensitivity groups at high noise exposure levels.…”

“…However, there are significant differences between this study and the previous study in terms of the location of noise exposure and the noise sources. Participants in the previous study (Miedema and Vos, 2003) assessed perceived disturbance in a home environment, with the noise sources representing transportation noise, such as road traffic and aircraft noises. Moreover, it was also found that noise sensitivity had a positive relationship with speech privacy (H3b).…”