Soundscapes: the effects of natural sound and unnatural noise on heart rate, positive affect and negative affect, in relation to stress recovery
Open Access
Author:
Zaverukha, Jessica M
Area of Honors:
Biobehavioral Health
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Joshua Morrison Smyth, Thesis Supervisor David John Vandenbergh, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Sound Noise National Parks Stress recovery
Abstract:
The area of natural sounds and unnatural, otherwise referred to as man-made noise, is a relatively new field of study. Specifically, the restorative aspects of sound and noise, after exposure to a stressor, have not been studied. In order to better understand the restorative aspects of sound and noise, this study assessed three different conditions, sound, noise and control, and their effects on stress recovery through positive affect, negative affect, and heart rate analysis. By examining both psychological and physiological reactions it is possible to delve into the importance of auditory environments in relation to health. For heart rate, it was hypothesized that sound would cause the fastest rate of recovery, followed by control, then noise. In regards to positive and negative affect, it was hypothesized that the sound condition would produce the highest positive and lowest negative affect, followed by control and finally noise. Heart rate data was continuously recorded and examined for the recovery task period. Current mood and arousal questionnaires were given during four predetermined periods, baseline, following the TSST, following the recovery task, and at the end of the study, to assess positive and negative affect.
The study found no significant differences in arousal or heart rate between groups. Interestingly, there was a statistical trend in mood following the recovery task between the noise and control conditions, with the noise group reporting more positive mood than both sound and control. Nonetheless, the slopes of heart rate showed a faster recovery rate for sound, followed by control and lastly noise.
