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Trait anxiety and modeled exposure as determinants of self-reported annoyance to sound, air pollution and other environmental factors in the home

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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

We examined to what degree annoyance ratings to noise, air pollution and other common environmental factors in the home environment could be considered to mirror personality disposition in terms of habitual anxiety level and, when appropriate, objectively modeled noise and nitrogen emission (NOx).

Methods

A trait anxiety scale was introduced in a cross-sectional public health survey with 2,856 respondents. Of these, 705 had self-reported asthma and the rest constituted gender-matched referents. Annoyance to ten specific factors in the residential environment, mainly focusing on source-specific noise and air pollution, was assessed on a six-point likert scale. A-weighted energy equivalent continuous sound pressure level during a full day (24 h; L Aeq,24) as well as annual average NOx levels (μg/m3) at the residential address were modeled with high resolution, using a road data base and a detailed emission data base for NOx.

Results

The two most prevalent complaints were annoyance to traffic noise and sounds from neighbors, which was reported by about 8% of the participants. Unadjusted logistic regression analyses using the continuous trait anxiety score as a predictor showed positive associations with ratings of annoyance from total traffic noise, sounds from neighbors, sound from ventilation, exhaust fumes from traffic, sounds from other installations, and vibrations from traffic (ORs between 1.37 and 2.14). Modeled noise and NOx exposure were positively related with annoyance to traffic noise and exhaust fumes, respectively. Adjustment of the trait anxiety scores for other individual characteristics and potential determinants did not change the overall pattern of results.

Conclusion

Trait anxiety scores were often mirrored in ratings of annoyance, which suggests caution when using annoyance reports either as a surrogate measure for environmental exposure on the individual-level in epidemiologic studies or when studying the moderating effects of annoyance on health outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Per-Olof Östergren, Department of Health Sciences, Division of Social Medicine and Global Health, Malmö University Hospital for giving access to the initial survey data. Susanna Gustafsson and Emilie Stroh at the GIS Centre, Lund University, assisted in the assessment of road traffic noise and air pollution. Åke Boalt at the county council of the Scania region gave assistance as regards the geocoding. The project was financially supported by grants within the National Air Pollution Programme at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, the Swedish Emission Research Programme and the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Roger Persson

  2. Competence Center for Clinical Research, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

    Jonas Björk

  3. Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Jonas Ardö

  4. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

    Maria Albin & Kristina Jakobsson

Authors
  1. Roger Persson
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  2. Jonas Björk
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  3. Jonas Ardö
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  4. Maria Albin
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  5. Kristina Jakobsson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roger Persson.

Appendix: Overview of survey questions

Appendix: Overview of survey questions

Asthma question

Asthma was measured with one item.

Do you have asthma?

The response alternatives were: 1 = No, 2 = Yes, but it is no problem, 3 = Yes, it is a slight problem, 4 = Yes, it is a severe problem.

Noise sensitivity question

Noise sensitivity was measured with one item.

Fix on which answer best describes your usual way to feel when you’re exposed to noise/sound?

The response alternatives were: 1 = Not at all sensitive, 2 = Not especially sensitive, 3 = Fairly sensitive, 4 = Very sensitive.

Trait anxiety questions

Trait anxiety was measured with 7-items. The items, formulated as statements, were derived from the psychic trait anxiety scale from the Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP).

  1. (a)

    I have a rather poor self-confidence.

  2. (b)

    I’m the kind of person who is excessively sensitive and easily hurt.

  3. (c)

    I seldom dare to speak up when in a discussion; because I believe that other people do not think my opinion matter.

  4. (d)

    I think it takes an unusually long time for me to get over distressing experiences.

  5. (e)

    I often feel insecure when I meet people that I don’t know that well.

  6. (f)

    I often worry over things that other people consider as insignificant.

  7. (g)

    I get worried far in advance when I’m about to get started with something.

The items were responded on a four-point scale: 1 = does not apply at all, 2 = does not apply particularly well, 3 = applies fairly well, 4 = applies completely.

Annoyance questions in the asthma survey 2005

In a residential area there might be a number of annoying factors. Some of the more common are listed below. If you reflect on the conditions as you have perceived them during the last 12 –months, to what degree would you consider yourself annoyed when you are in your home?

  1. (a)

    Traffic noise

  2. (b)

    Industrial noise

  3. (c)

    Street and night life

  4. (d)

    Sound from neighbors

  5. (e)

    Sound from ventilation systems

  6. (f)

    Sounds from other installations (e.g., elevators, drainage, laundry room etc.)

  7. (g)

    Smells from industrial production

  8. (h)

    Pollution from wood burning

  9. (i)

    Exhaust fumes from traffic

  10. (j)

    Vibration from traffic

All items were responded to on six-point scales: 1 = not aware, 2 = aware, but it does not annoy me, 3 = not especially annoyed, 4 = fairly annoyed, 5 = very annoyed, 6 = extremely annoyed.

Annoyance questions in the public health survey 2004

Have you during the last 3 months experienced annoyance from the following factors in your residential area?

  1. (a)

    Traffic noise

  2. (b)

    Sound from neighbors

  3. (c)

    Smells from industrial production

  4. (d)

    Pollution from wood burning

  5. (e)

    Exhaust fumes from traffic

  6. (f)

    Train noise

  7. (g)

    Aircraft noise

All items were responded to on four-point scales: 1 = Yes, at least once daily, 2 = Yes, at least once a week, 3 = Yes, but more seldom, 4 = No, never.

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Persson, R., Björk, J., Ardö, J. et al. Trait anxiety and modeled exposure as determinants of self-reported annoyance to sound, air pollution and other environmental factors in the home. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81, 179–191 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0204-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0204-1

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