Psychological and Physiological Responses of Residents to Floor Impact Noise in Multifamily Housing.

Abstract

Floor impact noise is a persistent environmental source of stress for people who live in multifamily housing and has both psychological and physiological effects. This commentary presents a synthesis of interdisciplinary findings that illustrate the inadequacy of regulatory frameworks in addressing the affective components of residents' complaints about the noise. Regulatory frameworks rely solely on energy-based, single-number quantities; however, they inadequately capture the cognitive and emotional dimensions of impact noise exposure. Evidence reveals that conventional structural interventions address mid- and high-frequency attenuation, but low-frequency components of floor impact noise are primarily unmitigated. Physiological studies have also reported autonomic arousal and activation of the stress system, particularly among individuals who are sensitive to noise. Epidemiological evidence further indicates that noise sensitivity affects a substantial proportion of the general population and constitutes an independent risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Future noise criteria require psychoacoustically informed metrics that incorporate emotional valence and individual factors. Directions for future research include conducting longitudinal dose-response studies, cross-cultural validation, and transdisciplinary frameworks that incorporate the sociocultural, sensory, and ecological aspects of sustainable residential acoustic design.