Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The aim of this study was to determine, as part of a larger research programme, whether or not there are reliable associations between aircraft noise exposure and several indications of psychiatric morbidity and distress.

Main Topics:

Variables
(I) Awareness and attitudes to aircraft noise
Open-ended questions looking for spontaneous mention of aircraft noise; length of residence, accomodation and satisfaction with it; attitudes to and awareness of noise especially aircraft and road traffic noise (questions developed by McKennell (1963) to form a Guttman scale were used); fear of aircraft; sensitivity to noise.
(II) Assessment of health status
Respondents were asked to rate their health over the last two weeks, and to indicate, from a list of symptoms, which they had experienced in this period. A series of questions taken from the General Household survey (1976) covered long-standing illness, health visits, medicines taken, and use made of health and welfare services.
(III) Background information
Age, sex, occupation, household composition, terminal education age, country of birth. Employment background: where worked, whether at Heathrow, or for a company connected with the airport, job satisfaction, whether bothered by noise at work. Ownership of household items, including double glazing.