Correlation between Noise Exposure and Mental Health Components among Iranian Steel Workers, 2021

Article Info Background: Noise is an important occupational safety and health issue in many workplaces. Noise annoyance is a strong measurable mental response. It is a reaction that a person expresses to the noise exposure. Thus, this study investigates the correlation between noise exposure and its annoyance in terms of mental health components. Materials and Methods: This was a correlational descriptive study conducted on 100 workers. Respondents were recruited by a simple random sampling method. The equivalent sound level (LeqA) was determined using dosimetry. The numerical scale of ISO/TS 15666:2003 was used to measure noise annoyance. Mental health components were determined using the SCL-90 mental health questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 22) using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal–Wallis, and correlation tests. Results: The median of mental health and noise annoyance were 38 and 6.5, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between equivalent sound level (LeqA) and noise annoyance score (P<0.001, r=0.92). A significant correlation was found between mental health components (depression, anxiety, self-morbidity, obsession and compulsion, aggression, morbid fear, paranoid thoughts, psychosis, and sensitivity in interpersonal relationships) and equivalent sound level (P<0.001). Also, a significant correlation was observed between noise annoyance score and mental health components (P<0.001). Conclusion: We concluded thatin order to enhance the mental health of employees and increment efficiency and performance, it is recommended that appropriate control methods should be applied. Correlation between Noise Exposure and Mental Health Components among