Noise Pollution, Psychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life: Noise Problem in the East Region of Turkey

Year 2012, Volume: 19 Issue: 2, 75 - 81, 01.04.2012

Zafer Akan Ahmet Yılmaz Osman Özdemir Mehmet Ali Korpınar

Abstract

Aim: As to clinical examinations, predisposition to aggression and aggressive behavior among drivers are very high in Turkey. For this reason, direct correlation between the noise pollution and general psychological symptoms with quality of life in public transport drivers were investigated in this survey. Material and Methods: Bus drivers of varying bus brands (F, O and P which has different noise levels) were subjected in this study. SCL-90-R and SF-36 questionnaire were used to assess the presence and severity of psychiatric symptoms and quality of life. Sound level meter (Smart Sensor AR844) was used for noise pollution measurements (dB(A)) within the buses and city main streets. Results: According to the measurements; F, O and P brand buses average 65.16 dB(A), 70.86 dB(A) and 75.33 dB(A) noise produces respectively. Especially, P brand mini-bus drivers were found to have worked under continuously high noise (75.33 dB(A), average 11.22±3.86 hours daily). According to psychiatric SCL-90-R and SF-36 assessments, observed psychiatric symptoms were more pronounced between the high noise exposed group than other groups (P<0.001). Discussion: In this survey, we observed that Psychologies and quality of life of bus drivers were affected by the noise pollution and noise pollution had cause to serious psychological symptoms on drivers such as anxiety, depression, hostility, etc., and noise had negative effects over the quality of life, particularly, when drivers were exposed for longer working periods and above certain values Key words: Noise Pollution; Work Place Safety; Psychological Symptoms; Quality of Life; Drivers.

Keywords

Noise Pollution; Work Place Safety; Psychological Symptoms; Quality of Life; Drivers.

Gürültü Kirliliği, Psikiyatrik Semptomlar ve Yaşam Kalitesi: Türkiye'nin Doğu Bölgesinde Gürültü Problemi

Abstract

Amaç: Kliniksel bulgulara göre, agresyona yatkınlık ve agrasif davranış Türkiye'de toplu taşıma sürücüleri arasında oldukça yaygındır. Bu sebeple, bu çalışmada, gürültü kirliliği ile psikolojik semptomlar ve yaşam kalitesi arasında doğrudan bir ilişki olup olmadığı toplu taşıma araç sürücüleri üzerinde araştırıldı. Materyal ve Metod: Çeşitli marka ve model araçta (Farklı gürültü seviyelerine sahip P, O, F marka araçlar) çalışan araç sürücüleri bu çalışmaya alınmıştır. Sürücülerin psikiyatrik semptom ve yaşam kalitesi analizleri için SCL-90-R ve SF-36 analiz ölçekleri. Şehir içi ana caddelerde ve araçların içerisindeki gürültü seviyesinin belirlenmesinde gürültü seviye ölçüm cihazı (Smart Sensor AR844) kullanıldı. Sonuçlar: Ölçümlere göre F, O ve P marka araçlar sırasıyla ortalama 65.16 dB(A), 70.86 dB(A) ve 75.33 dB(A) gürültü üretmektedirler. özellikle P marka araç sürücüleri sürekli olarak yüksek gürültü altında çalışmaktadırlar (75.33 dB(A) ortalama 11.22±3.86 saat günlük). Psikiyatrik SCL-90-R ve SF-36 değerlendirmelerine göre gözlenen psikiyatrik semptomlar yüksek gürültüye maruz kalan çalışanlarda diğer iki gruba göre daha belirgindi (P<0.001). Tartışma: Bu çalışma, toplu taşıma araç sürücülerinin psikolojilerinin ve yaşam kalitelerinin gürültü seviyesine bağlı olarak özellikle sürücüler yüksek düzeyde gürültüye maruz kalırlarsa etkilendiğini ve gürültü kirliliğinin anksiete, depresyon, gibi ciddi psikolojik semptonlara yol açarak yaşam kalitesi üzerinde negatif etkiye sahip olduğunu ortaya koymuştur Anahtar kelimeler: Gürültü Kirliliği; İş Yeri Güvenliği; Psikolojik Semptomlar; Yaşam Kalitesi; Sürücüler.

Keywords

Gürültü Kirliliği; İş Yeri Güvenliği; Psikolojik Semptomlar; Yaşam Kalitesi; Sürücüler.

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• How to cite this article: Akan Z, Yilmaz A,
• Özdemir O, Korpinar MA. Noise Pollution,
• Psychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life: Noise
• Problem in the East Region of Turkey. JIUMF
• ; 19(2): xx-xx. DOI: 10.7247/jiumf.19.2.3