Predicting individual subjective responses to traffic noise

Abstract

Surveyed 1,150 Ss to relate both individual subjective responses to traffic noise (e.g., annoyance) and Ss' health to traffic noise and to other nonacoustical predictors. 16 to 25% of the variance in subjective responses was accounted for by traffic noise level. Although many of the nonacoustical predictors were related to subjective responses, canonical correlations indicated that neighborhood satisfaction, anxiety, and concern about traffic accidents were most important. Negative responses increased with anxiety and concern about accidents but decreased with satisfaction. Whereas low-anxiety Ss adapted to the noise, high-anxiety Ss did not. Ss exposed to greater noise reported poorer health (e.g., hearing loss, headaches, colds) and believed more strongly that traffic noise was harmful to their health. (32 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)