The time-lagged effect of noise exposure on noise annoyance: The role of temporal, spatial and social contexts

While some research has examined the time-lagged effect of restorative soundscape in specific contexts (e.g., parks), how the time-lagged effect of noise annoyance during people's daily activities may vary across different temporal, spatial, and social contexts remains largely unknown. To address this research gap, we utilized Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) data to measure people's real-time noise annoyance and activity diary data to assess their time-lagged noise annoyance. Real-time noise exposure was captured by portable noise sensors. We employed fixed effects ordered panel logistic regression to examine the effects of different thresholds of noise levels on people's time-lagged noise annoyance, and how it varied across different temporal, spatial, and social contexts. The results indicated that: (1) there were significant time-lagged effects between participants' real-time noise exposure and their time-lagged noise annoyance; (2) participants' time-lagged noise annoyance associated with an activity was influenced by its temporal, spatial, and social contexts, particularly on weekdays; (3) participants' time-lagged noise annoyance was significantly associated with measured noise levels, with the highest coefficient for 65 dB, followed by 70 dB; and (4) there were significant interaction effects between noise levels and temporal-spatial-social contexts on participants' time-lagged noise annoyance (particularly when noise levels exceeded 70 dB). These findings enhance our understanding and have crucial implications for the implementation of noise control policies, which should consider not only noise levels but also the time-lagged effects of noise, particularly on weekdays, at outdoor recreational activity sites, as well as the potential vulnerabilities of individuals experiencing noise exposure in isolation.