A new study from the University of Oulu in Finland provides one of the most comprehensive investigations to date into the association between long-term traffic noise exposure and mental health outcomes in children, adolescents, and young adults.
Using a large Finnish register dataset of over 114,000 individuals born between 1987 and 1998 living in the Helsinki metropolitan area, the researchers were able to follow participants for nearly nine years on average.
To work out their exposure to high noise levels, annual average road and railway traffic noise was modelled at their residential address on both the most and least exposed sides of homes. This was cross-referenced with those who had a diagnosis of depression and /or anxiety. By combining this data, researchers were able to build a picture of both the levels of noise an individual was exposed to and their evolving mental health.
The researchers also made efforts to ensure that their results were not influenced by air pollution, green spaces or sociodemographic factors.
They found that each 10dB increase in road traffic noise was associated with a 5% higher risk of depression and a 4% higher risk of anxiety.
Significantly, the analysis identified a clear threshold effect: exposure above 53 dB – the World Health Organization’s recommended limit – was consistently linked to higher risks of both conditions. These associations were most pronounced for anxiety in males and in young people without a parental history of mental illness, suggesting that environmental stressors may play a particularly strong role when genetic predisposition is weaker.
Dr Anna Pulakka, senior author of the study said: ‘Our analysis showed that anxiety risk is lowest when traffic noise is around 45 to 50 dB at the quieter side of dwellings but increases significantly after 53 to 55 dB. Above 53 dB, noise becomes a significant psychological stressor for young people regardless of whether an individual sleeps on the quieter or noisier side of a dwelling.’
The study provides timely evidence that environmental noise is not just a nuisance but a measurable mental health risk factor for young people. Its findings support urban planning and transport policies aimed at reducing noise exposure, from quieter road surfaces and lower speed limits to better residential design.
Yiyan He, the lead author of the study suggests: ‘Our findings support further actions towards reducing traffic noise exposure. For policymakers and urban planners, this should include measures such as ensuring bedrooms are on the quieter side of the dwelling and ensuring there is green space nearby. For transport, quieter tyres or reduced speed limits should also be considered.’
The full research can be read here.
Photo by Ilya B
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