The synergetic effect of nocturnal road noise exposure and work-related stress on self-rated sleep quality

Abstract

Ample evidence exists for adverse health effects, such as sleep disturbance, due to nocturnal transportation noise but also due to other non-acoustic particularly psychosocial stressors, such as work-related strain. However, only very few studies have focused on the synergetic effect of the co-exposure by transportation noise and psychosocial stress. A survey with 3460 working women aged 18-65 years from the Swedish county Västra Götaland investigated the effect of nocturnal road noise exposure, work-related stress and their potential synergetic effect on self-rated sleep quality. Results revealed that sleep quality was not consistently associated with noise exposure (depending on the assessment via modelled nocturnal outdoor noise levels vs. façade of the bedroom) while work-related stress had a significant effect throughout. There was a non-significant trend for a synergetic effect between the façade of the bedroom and work-related stress that warrants consideration in future noise effects research.