Mood-boosting benefits of birdsong drowned out by traffic noise, study finds
Even low levels of traffic noise can negate the benefits of listening to natural sounds, researchers say Hearing the trill or whistle of a bird while going about daily life is well known to boost people’s mood. But a new study suggests the psychological benefits of hearing birdsong are being threatened by traffic noise. Researchers found that even low levels of traffic noise negatively affected…
A recent study has revealed that the mood-boosting benefits of birdsong may be diminished by the presence of traffic noise, according to researchers at the University of Surrey. While the sound of birds has been known to improve people's well-being, the study found that even low levels of traffic noise can negate these positive effects.
The research involved over 1,500 participants who listened to various simulated soundscapes that combined birdsong and traffic noise. Participants were asked to rate their feelings of wellbeing, stress, and stress recovery in response to each sound environment. The study's lead author, Dr. Eleanor Ratcliffe, noted that the presence of birdsong was found to have a positive impact on participants' mood, regardless of its acoustic complexity.
This suggests that protecting and supporting natural environments, regardless of their utility to humans, is crucial for maintaining psychological well-being.
However, the researchers also discovered that traffic noise negatively influenced the psychological benefits associated with nature sounds. Heart rate measurements on a separate group of participants confirmed this, showing that those exposed to traffic noise experienced a higher physiological stress response when listening to soundscapes with high levels of traffic noise.
The study also found that younger participants generally reported higher levels of wellbeing compared to older participants. This difference in perception may be attributed to younger individuals having better hearing and a more enhanced acoustic experience. Furthermore, the researchers found that greater feelings of wellbeing were associated with participants perceiving a higher diversity of bird species in the soundscapes.
Participants who claimed greater knowledge of bird species also reported higher levels of wellbeing, implying that familiarity with bird species could boost the mood-boosting benefits of birdsong.
The findings of this study have significant implications for urban planning and design. The researchers suggest that measures should be taken to minimize traffic noise in green spaces, such as reducing speed limits and increasing the density of ground-level vegetation around parks. These steps could help maximize the enjoyment of green spaces and enhance the mood-boosting benefits of birdsong for urban dwellers.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
