ASA 129th Meeting - Washington, DC - 1995 May 30 .. Jun 06

5pMU5. Understanding individual differences in response to environmental noise: An essential step in determining health risk.

Susan L. Staples

58 Spongia Rd., Stone Ridge, NY 12484

Evidence is reviewed indicating that psychological and social factors render people more or less susceptible to stress-related health effects from noise. Factors such as appraised meaning, personality traits, and perceived control are considered in terms of their relationship to physiological variables and in terms of the mechanisms underlying adverse effects. The limitations of epidemiological and dose-response methods for determining and understanding health effects are discussed. Modifications in these approaches are suggested to clarify the role of intervening psychological factors, to understand the physiological mechanisms implicated, and to delineate public health risks.