Acoustic information masking effects of natural sounds on traffic noise based on psychological health in open urban spaces

Zhang, Shilun; Chen, Lin · 2023 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1031501

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Summary

This study investigates the acoustic information masking effects of natural sounds (water and birdsong) on traffic noise, specifically evaluating their impact on psychological health in open urban spaces. Motivated by the need to improve soundscape quality and mental well-being in urban environments, the research aims to determine how natural sounds can mitigate the negative psychological effects of traffic noise and whether contextual factors, such as crowd activity sounds, influence these masking effects. The methodology combined field psychological walk measurements and controlled laboratory experiments. Field data were collected at ten filtered positions in Yantai Binhai Park, China, where participants evaluated their psychological health using a nine-point bipolar scale covering emotional (cheerful–depressed, relaxed–anxious) and cognitive (energetic–fatigued, focused–distracted) dimensions. Laboratory experiments involved 30 participants exposed to edited audio stimuli. The study tested three conditions: the effect of varying traffic noise levels (45.0–75.0 dBA) on psychological health; the masking effect of water and birdsong sounds (45.0–65.0 dBA) on 60.0 dBA traffic noise; and the influence of adding 60.0 dBA crowd activity sounds to these mixtures. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation, linear regression, and paired-sample t-tests to assess significance. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between sound pressure levels (LAeq) and psychological health values in both field and experimental settings. In the laboratory, 65.0 dBA water sounds significantly improved psychological health compared to 60.0 dBA traffic noise alone, demonstrating a successful masking effect. However, lower levels of water sounds (45.0–60.0 dBA) did not produce statistically significant improvements. Birdsong sounds at all tested levels (45.0–65.0 dBA) increased psychological health values relative to traffic noise alone, but these improvements were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the addition of crowd activity sounds did not significantly alter the psychological health outcomes associated with birdsong masking. Age was negatively correlated with psychological health in field measurements, while gender showed mixed effects depending on the dimension and setting. The study concludes that natural sounds possess potential for masking the acoustic information of traffic noise to support public health, though efficacy depends on sound type and intensity. Specifically, high-intensity water sounds proved effective, while birdsong offered non-significant benefits. The findings suggest that urban planners can utilize natural soundscapes to enhance psychological well-being, potentially reducing public health costs. The research provides empirical evidence for configuring open urban spaces to mitigate traffic noise annoyance, highlighting the importance of considering both acoustic levels and contextual sound sources in soundscape design.

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• auditory