Spatial and temporal nonstationarity in the association between noise levels and perceived noise annoyance during work across groups with different chronotypes and levels of social jetlag

While numerous studies have examined the negative effects of noise on people's noise-related annoyance, limited attention has been paid to the spatio-temporal nonstationarity of noise levels and annoyance during work. To address this research gap, we employed Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, mobile noise sensors, and activity diaries to collect continuous noise exposure data from 482 participants in Hong Kong over one working day and one non-working day, capturing both noise exposure and perceived noise annoyance during at-home and workplace-based work episodes. We then examined how annoyance responses to work-related noise vary by spatial (at home vs. workplace-based) and temporal contexts (working vs. non-working days), with particular focus on differences across different chronotype groups. The results revealed that: (a) significant differences exist in both noise exposure and annoyance between at-home and workplace-based work; (b) work noise exposure differs significantly between working and non-working days, whereas perceived noise annoyance does not; and (c) different chronotype groups exhibit distinct work patterns, noise exposure levels and annoyance. In particular, morning-type individuals experience lower work noise exposure and annoyance and demonstrate a moderating effect on the association between work noise and perceived annoyance. These findings enhance our understanding of potential stationarity bias in work-related noise exposure and perceived annoyance across spatial and temporal contexts, and provide valuable insights for the development of noise management policies tailored to different chronotype groups.