Effect of Aircraft Noise of the Air Force on Noise Sensitivity, Psychosocial Status and Behaviour of Elementary Students

Oh, Wonki; Kim, Hyeongsu; Chang, Sounghoon; Lee, Kunsei; Kim, Keunwhoe; Choe, Heejung; Ham, Eunmee; Son, Juhyoung

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
We evaluated the effect of the aircraft noise on the behavior and affect status of the local elementary school students.
METHODS
The daytime noise levels of the exposed and control areas were compared and the self answered questionnaires from 272 students and their parents of the exposed area and 91 of the control area were collected. The questionnaires are regarding the noise sensitivity and the psychosocial status of the students, noise sensitivity of the parents and the parents' behavioral evaluation for their children.
RESULTS
The mean noise level of the exposed area (67.6 dB(A)) showed higher level than the control area (57.1 dB(A), 58.2 dB(A), 60.2 dB(A)) and it was statistically significant. The mean score for noise sensitivity and the mean score for brief mental exam. in the exposed students were lower than the mean scores in the control group but they were not statistically significant (p=0.056 & 0.165). The mean score for behavioral evaluation of students by their parents in the exposed area(15.5) was higher than the mean score in the control group(13.2) and it was statistically significant(p=0.043). The mean score for noise sensitivity in the exposed parent(27.5) was higher than the mean score in the control group(24.1) and it was statistically significant(p=0.045).
CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the noise sensitivity of the parents affected the behavioral evaluation of the students than noise-exposure itself. The further study is needed to evaluate relationship between aircraft noise and it's effect on children's health.