ORCID

https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9580-5916

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Elizabeth Brondolo

Second Advisor

Robin Wellington

Abstract

Noise pollution is an environmental stressor with broad costs to society, both through its health impacts and its influence on the social environment. The health effects of noise pollution include changes in regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, and overall vascular health, in addition to effects on hearing. However, it is unclear whether these adverse effects result from noise exposure directly or from stress secondary to noise. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of both exposure to noise and noise-related stress on psychosomatic symptoms in a sample of 1961 teachers in Vietnam. We measured noise-related stress with a 4-item self-report questionnaire and psychosomatic symptoms with a 10-item questionnaire, which assessed the frequency of symptoms including headaches, stomach aches, and back pain. We tested effects of noise exposure and noise-related perceived stress on psychosomatic symptoms in multiple regression analyses controlling for age, experience, gender, and grade level(s) taught. Data showed significant positive associations of reported noise exposure and noise-related perceived stress with psychosomatic symptoms. We also evaluated noise-related stress as a mediator of these relations and found both indirect and direct effects of noise exposure on psychosomatic symptoms, suggesting partial mediation. Findings highlight the importance of both direct and indirect effects of noise exposure on the physical health of teachers in Vietnam. Both structural and individual-level factors likely drive psychosomatic complaints. Multi-level interventions may be needed to support teacher health. Such interventions could focus on reducing noise throughout the school system, as well as helping teachers modulate their stress.

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