Noise impact on work performance: survey data analysis and literature review

Beata Kirstukaitė1, Urtė Adelė Kerpytė1, Gretė Karčinskaitė1, Goda Klapatauskaitė1

1Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania

Abstract

Introduction. In the modern world, individuals are regularly exposed to unwanted noise in various settings. Human performance is affected by many work – related factors and workplace conditions, including noise levels. It is noteworthy that people‘s response to noise stimuli vary individually.

Aim. To evaluate the effects of noise on work performance in the study group and conduct a literature review on this topic.

Material and methods. The statistical data were collected through an online survey. To ensure objectivity 440 randomly selected anonymous respondents were selected for further analysis.

Results. The majority of respondents fell within the 18–25 age group. The results show that the majority of participants prefer to work from home, but more than 50% listen to music while working. More men than women listen to music while working (p = 0.018). Construction noise emerged as the most disruptive sound during while studying or working. Less than 6% of respondents claim that noise does not disturb them and does not impact their work performance.

Conclusions. Elevated noise levels can lead to both physical and psychological stress, ultimately diminishing productivity and making environmental noise a significant public health concern. It is important to take measures to reduce noise and find individual solutions. The study’s outcomes show that the majority of respondents have opted to change their workplace or listen to music to reduce the impact of environmental noise on work performance.

Keywords: noise pollution, environmental noise, mental well-being.

Full article

https://doi.org/10.53453/ms.2024.5.9