Acoustic information masking effects of natural sounds on traffic noise based on psychological health in open urban spaces

The use of existing resources, such as natural sounds, to promote the mental health of citizens is an area of research that is receiving increasing attention. This research contributes to existing knowledge by combining a field psychological walk method and an experimental acoustic control method to compare the acoustic information masking effects of water and birdsong sounds on traffic noise based on the psychological health responses of 30 participants to such effects. The influence of traffic noise and contextual sounds on the psychological health of participants identified the potential of natural sounds in the acoustic information masking of traffic noise. Furthermore, it was found that 65.0 dBA water sounds did not mask 60.0 dBA traffic noises. However, 45.0 dBA birdsong sounds did mask it, but this effect was not significant. Additionally, contextual factors with and without crowd activity sounds were not significant in influencing psychological health through birdsong. This study contributes to public health cost savings. It may also guide the development of new ideas and methods for configuring open urban spaces according to public health needs.