The effects of road traffic noise exposure on children's well-being: Results of causal pathway analyses in the context of the exposome concept

Chronic road traffic noise is a stressor that can have a negative impact on children's well-being. However, the extant literature is inconclusive. In addition to the direct effects on children's well-being, indirect effects and other influencing factors are discussed. Therefore, a comprehensive examination using the Exposome concept was carried out as part of the EU project EqualLife. The objective is to enhance our understanding of the intricate relationships between traffic noise and other factors that influence children's well-being. The present article utilizes data from N = 2,474 children from two studies (ALPINE, NORAH). We modelled causal pathway analyses with exposome variables (social and physical), the mediators stress and sleep quality, and the well-being outcomes happiness and prosocial behavior. The results demonstrate comparable direct effects in both studies, with the ALPINE study also showing indirect effects. The findings reveal that road traffic noise (Lden) is a significant contributing factor in both studies, along with other influencing factors (e.g., Quality of relationships in the family and with peers, video game behavior). Possible explanations and recommendations for authorities will be discussed.