Aircraft Noise and Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders, 1977

<P>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</P><br>The aim of this study was to determine, as part of a larger research programme, whether or not there are reliable associations between aircraft noise exposure and several indications of psychiatric morbidity and distress.<br><br><B>Main Topics</B>:<BR><br>Variables<br>
(I) Awareness and attitudes to aircraft noise<br>
Open-ended questions looking for spontaneous mention of aircraft noise; length of residence, accomodation and satisfaction with it; attitudes to and awareness of noise especially aircraft and road traffic noise (questions developed by McKennell (1963) to form a Guttman scale were used); fear of aircraft; sensitivity to noise.<br>
(II) Assessment of health status<br>
Respondents were asked to rate their health over the last two weeks, and to indicate, from a list of symptoms, which they had experienced in this period. A series of questions taken from the General Household survey (1976) covered long-standing illness, health visits, medicines taken, and use made of health and welfare services.<br>
(III) Background information<br>
Age, sex, occupation, household composition, terminal education age, country of birth. Employment background: where worked, whether at Heathrow, or for a company connected with the airport, job satisfaction, whether bothered by noise at work. Ownership of household items, including double glazing.