Attitudes towards Safe Listening Measures in Entertainment Venues: Results from an International Survey among Young Venue-Goers

Abstract

Background: Sustained exposure to excess noise in recreational settings is among the main causes of hearing loss among young adults worldwide. Within a global effort to develop standards for safe listening in entertainment venues, this study aims at identifying modifiable factors (knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs), which can hinder or facilitate the acceptance of safe listening measures in public venues among young venue-goers. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed inspired by the Health Belief Model. It was divided into five sections: (i) socio-demographics (ii) listening habits, (iii) experiences with loud music, (iv) knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs, and (v) willingness to change. Participants were recruited through social media. Results: 2264 individuals aged 16–35 completed the questionnaire. Most visited entertainment venues relatively infrequently, with the majority of them only visiting once per month or less. Nevertheless, most reported having experienced the negative consequences of listening to loud music. Overall, most people were favorable towards preventive measures, especially quiet areas. Conclusion: Our findings stress the urge to address the issue of safe listening in public venues and support an approach based on the introduction of standards. Moreover, they provide us with information on key factors to be considered when introducing and communicating preventive measures in public entertainment venues.

Developing Safe Listening Features for Video Games: An International Online Survey on Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Among Gamers and Esports Participants (Preprint)

“…Our focus on identifying associations allows us to draw meaningful conclusions regardless. Additionally, the consistency of our results with previous studies on related topics [13,14] gives us confidence in their validity. Future research should address these limitations and investigate the effectiveness of educational interventions in promoting safe listening habits among video gamers and esports players.…”

“…The pervasive nature of this issue, covering activities ranging from personal listening device use to attendance at live events with high decibel levels, has been illuminated through extensive research. Such studies have consistently underscored the risk of hearing damage from prolonged exposure to loud music via earphones or headphones and attendance at entertainment venues where volumes exceed safe listening thresholds, potentially leading to noiseinduced hearing loss [13][14][15][16].…”