Somatic and Psychological Characteristics of Noise-Sensitive Adults in Finland

Heinonen-Guzejev, Marja; Vuorinen, Heikki S.; Mussalo‐Rauhamaa, Helena; Heikkilä, Kauko; Koskenvuo, Markku; Kaprio, Jaakko

doi:10.3200/aeoh.59.8.410-417

Cited by 25 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Zimmer and Ellermeier [66] reported only a tendency in the same direction when measuring NS with the LEF, probably due to the limited age range in this study. On the other hand, Heinonen-Guzejev et al, [67] observed a decrease of NS (measured with the WNS) with age, whereas Stansfeld et al, [31] found the highest NS (using a single-item self-report and the McKennell scale for sensitivity measurement) among middle-aged women (30-44 years) and a declining sensitivity in older age groups.…”

Section: Noise Sensitivity and Agementioning

confidence: 96%

The associations between noise sensitivity, reported physical and mental health, perceived environmental quality, and noise annoyance

Schreckenberg

Griefahn

Meis³

2010

Noise Health

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

One hundred and ninety residents around Frankfurt Airport (46% female; 17-80 years) were interviewed concerning noise annoyance due to transportation noise (aircraft, road traffic), perceived mental and physical health, perceived environmental quality, and noise sensitivity. The aim of the analyses was to test whether noise sensitivity reflects partly general environmental sensitivity and is associated with an elevated susceptibility for the perception of mental and physical health. In this study, the reported physical and mental health variables were not associated with noise exposure but with noise annoyance, and were interpreted to reflect nonspecific codeterminants of annoyance rather than noise effects. Noise sensitivity was found to influence total noise annoyance and aircraft noise annoyance but to a lesser degree annoyance due to road traffic noise. Noise sensitivity was associated with reported physical health, but not with reported mental health. Noise-sensitive persons reported poorer environmental quality in their residential area than less sensitive persons in particular with regard to air traffic (including the facets noise, pollution, and contaminations) and quietness. Other aspects of the perceived quality of the environment were scarcely associated with noise sensitivity. This indicates that noise sensitivity is more specific and a reliable predictor of responses to noise from the dominant source (in this case air traffic) rather than a predictor of the individual perception of the environmental quality in general.

show abstract

Section: Noise Sensitivity and Agementioning

confidence: 96%

The associations between noise sensitivity, reported physical and mental health, perceived environmental quality, and noise annoyance

Schreckenberg

Griefahn

Meis³

2010

Noise Health

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Noise sensitivity has been associated with neuroticism [2] and smoking. [9] Noise-sensitive individuals have also been found to have more prominent symptoms of depression and anger [30] and individuals with high noise sensitivity have had more allergic complaints than persons with low sensitivity. [65] The Chemical Sensitivity Factor was associated with allergies and alcohol use among all subjects in this study.…”

Section: Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale and Qeesi's Chemical Intmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…[2] Noise sensitivity has been either equally present in men and women [4][5][6] or in some studies women have scored higher on noise sensitivity. [7,8] It is a relatively stable trait [2,9] and has not been associated with auditory acuity. [2,[10][11][12] Noise sensitivity aggregates in families and the estimate of heritability is 36%.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[32] MCS patients have rated the earlier decades of their lives as more stressful than the controls [33] and noise sensitivity has also been associated with stress. [9] It has been hypothesized that individual differences in limbic system reactivity and central nervous system sensitizability underlie vulnerability to environmental stimuli. [28,34] Amygdala, which is also one of several brain regions that modulate startle reactions to unexpected noise, [35,36] is also the most sensitive portion of the brain to chemical stimuli.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Noise sensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity scales: Properties in a population based epidemiological study

et al. 2012

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Noise sensitivity is considered to be a self-perceived indicator of vulnerability to stressors in general and not noise alone. Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) has to some extent been accompanied by noise sensitivity, indicating a moderate correspondence between them. The aim of this study is to investigate if the Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale and Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory's (QEESI) Chemical Intolerance Subscale can differentiate noise sensitivity and MCS as different entities, and if there are overlaps in the characteristics of noise sensitivity and MCS. In 2002, 327 individuals (166 men, 161 women; age range 45 - 66 years) from the Finnish Twin Cohort answered a questionnaire on noise-related and MCS items. Somatic, psychological, and lifestyle factors were obtained through earlier questionnaires for the same individuals. Both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses (CFA and EFA) of the questionnaire items on the Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale and QEESI's Chemical Intolerance Subscale indicated the presence of three factors - Noise Sensitivity, Chemical Sensitivity, and Ability to Concentrate factors - arising from the forming of two factors from the items of the Weinstein's scale. In the regression analyses, among all subjects, the Noise Sensitivity Factor was associated with neuroticism and smoking, and the Chemical Sensitivity Factor was associated with allergies and alcohol use. The study indicates that the Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale and QEESI's Chemical Intolerance Subscale differentiate noise sensitivity and MCS as different entities.

show abstract

“…[9] Although noise sensitivity is seldom the focus of public health research investigations, there is mounting evidence to suggest that noise sensitivity may be a health risk factor unto itself. [10][11][12][13][14] Noise sensitivity has been described as a complex and multifaceted construct that encompasses physiological reactions to noise, psychological reactivity and coping mechanisms. [15] Although noise sensitivity is often included as a potential moderator or covariate in acoustics-based and public health research on the effects of environmental noise, [8,16,17] there is limited evidence to suggest that noise sensitivity involves a sensory component.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Noise sensitivity and diminished health: Testing moderators and mediators of the relationship

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The concept of noise sensitivity emerged in public health and psychoacoustic research to help explain individual differences in reactions to noise. Noise sensitivity has been associated with health problems, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully examined. Participants (n = 1102) were residents of Auckland, New Zealand, who completed questionnaires and returned them through the post. Models of noise sensitivity and health were tested in the analyses using bootstrapping methods to examine indirect effects. Results indicated that gender and noise exposure were not significant moderators in the model. Perceived stress and sleep problems were significant mediators of the relationship between noise sensitivity and subjective health complaints, even after controlling for the influence of neuroticism. However, the relationship between noise sensitivity and mental health complaints (anxiety and depression) was accounted for by the variance explained by neuroticism. Overall, this study provides considerable understanding of the relationship between noise sensitivity and health problems and identifies areas for further research in the field.

show abstract

Somatic and Psychological Characteristics of Noise-Sensitive Adults in Finland

Cited by 25 publications

References 26 publications

The associations between noise sensitivity, reported physical and mental health, perceived environmental quality, and noise annoyance

The associations between noise sensitivity, reported physical and mental health, perceived environmental quality, and noise annoyance

Noise sensitivity and multiple chemical sensitivity scales: Properties in a population based epidemiological study

Noise sensitivity and diminished health: Testing moderators and mediators of the relationship

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About