Manmade noises, such as vehicle traffic, can diminish the beneficial effects of nature’s soundscapes on people’s stress levels and anxiety, as indicated by a recent study.
A recent study published on November 27, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, conducted by Paul Lintott from the University of the West of England and Lia Gilmour from the Bat Conservation Trust, reveals that synthetic sounds like vehicle traffic can interfere with the positive impacts of natural soundscapes on individuals’ stress and anxiety.
Previous studies have demonstrated that natural sounds, such as birds singing, can lower blood pressure and heart and respiratory rates, as well as decrease self-reported stress and anxiety levels. In contrast, sounds generated by humans, like traffic or noise from airplanes, are believed to negatively affect human health and overall well-being in various ways.
The recent research involved 68 student volunteers who listened to three different soundscapes, each lasting three minutes: the first being a nature soundscape captured at sunrise in West Sussex, U.K.; the second combining the nature sounds with 20 mph traffic noises; and the third incorporating 40 mph traffic sounds. The participants’ moods and anxiety levels were evaluated before and after listening using self-reporting scales.
Results showed that listening to the natural soundscape significantly lowered self-reported stress and anxiety and also facilitated mood recovery following a stressful event. Nonetheless, the mood-enhancing benefits of the natural soundscape diminished when traffic sounds were present. The levels of stress and anxiety were lowest after listening to the pure natural soundscape, while the highest levels were recorded following the soundscape that included the 40 mph traffic sounds.
The researchers suggest that reducing traffic speed in urban areas might positively impact human health and well-being, not just through safety improvements but also by enhancing natural soundscapes.
They state: “Our study highlights that natural soundscapes can lower stress and anxiety levels, while human-made sounds like traffic noise can hinder these positive effects. Thus, lowering traffic speeds in cities is a crucial step for more individuals to enjoy the health benefits associated with nature.”
