Mediating Role of Building Vibration Noise in the Relationship between Housing Type and Mental Health: Evidence from a Taiwanese Online Survey
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Living in apartments is linked to poorer mental health, with building vibration noise being the main cause. This noise mediates the relationship between housing type and mental well-being, affecting sleep, anxiety, depression, and suicide risk.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Health
- Urban Psychology
- Noise Pollution Studies
Background
- Environmental noise is associated with mental health issues.
- The specific impact of building vibration noise on mental health remains under-researched.
- Housing type may influence exposure to different noise sources.
Purpose Of The Study
- To investigate the mediating role of building vibration noise in the relationship between housing type and mental health.
- To analyze the impact of different noise types (road-traffic, railway, building vibration) on mental health outcomes.
- To examine mental health outcomes including sleep quality, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidality.
Main Methods
- Cross-sectional online survey data from 776 adults in Taiwan.
- Participants reported subjective levels of road-traffic, railway, and building vibration noise.
- Mediation analysis using nonparametric bootstrapping (5000 resamples) was employed.
Main Results
- Living in apartments/condominiums showed a significant indirect effect on poorer mental health outcomes.
- Higher levels of building vibration noise mediated the association between apartment living and adverse mental health.
- No significant mediation effects were found for road-traffic or railway noise.
Conclusions
- Building vibration noise is a significant pathway linking apartment/condominium living to negative mental health.
- Interventions targeting building vibration noise may improve mental well-being for urban dwellers.
- Further research is needed to explore mitigation strategies for building vibration noise.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
Movement joints in buildings are essential design elements that accommodate inevitable motions caused by various factors such as temperature changes, moisture content variations, and structural deflections. These motions, if not considered in design and construction, can lead to unsightly or dangerous damage. Movement joints are incorporated in different forms to manage these stresses and allow materials to move without causing distress.
The simplest type of movement joints, working joints, are...
When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...

