The association of depressive symptoms with perceived occupational noise exposure in young adults

BACKGROUND: Previous studies show that occupational noise annoyance is associated with depressive symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the association of perceived occupational noise exposure and depressive symptoms in young adulthood and to evaluate whether noise sensitivity mediates or moderates this association. This study was part of Equal-Life program, grant No 874724. METHODS: The study was based on FinnTwin12, an ongoing longitudinal twin study. We included those participants who were working daily (n = 521) or weekly (n = 245) during the past 12 months. Mean age was 22.4, SD 0.7, 53% were female. The main analysis was to examine the association between perceived occupational noise exposure and depressive symptoms in young adulthood, at age 22. We studied depressive symptoms using the General Behavior Inventory (GBI). We also studied whether depressive symptoms assessed at age 17 were associated with perceived noise exposure at work at age 22. Linear regression analyses were used. Noise sensitivity and other covariates were included in linear regression models. RESULTS: Perceived daily occupational noise exposure was associated with depressive symptoms at age 22 (beta 1.19; 95% CI 0.09, 2.29) in all participants, and separately in females (beta 2.22; 95% CI 0.34, 4.09) but not males (beta 0.22; 95% CI -1.08, 1.52). Noise sensitivity was independently associated with depressive symptoms in all (beta 1.35; 95% CI 0.54, 2.17), and separately in males (beta 1.96; 95% CI 0.68, 3.24) but not females (beta 1.05; 95 % CI -0.04, 2.13). Pre-existing depressive symptoms at age 17 were predictive of perceived occupational noise exposure at age 22. Noise sensitivity was independent of perceived occupational noise exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived occupational noise exposure was associated with depressive symptoms in young adults, females in particular. Noise sensitivity was independently associated with depressive symptoms in all, males in particular. KEY MESSAGES: • In young adults and females in particular, perceived daily noise exposure at work was associated with depressive symptoms. • Noise sensitivity was independently associated with depressive symptoms among all participants, males in particular.