Comparative examination of the relationship between personal and social factors and annoyance on floor impact noise using survey and laboratory methods

In Korea, floor impact noise in apartment buildings is a major cause of social problems. To solve this, it is necessary to investigate personal and social factors related to annoyance caused by such noise. In this study, a comparative approach was taken in which personal and social factors were examined in two contexts: annoyance from floor impact noise in apartment buildings (using survey data) and annoyance under laboratory conditions. For the survey, personal factors (behavioural coping method and noise sensitivity) and social factors (attitude toward and experience of conflict with upper-unit neighbours) and extent of annoyance over a 12-month period were examined. Then, annoyance caused by noise from a child running presented at two sound pressure levels (43 dBA and 53 dBA) was evaluated in a laboratory with the survey participants. The results of the investigation and experiment show that behavioural coping method and experience of conflict with upper-unit neighbours were found to be significantly correlated with annoyance under both noise exposure levels in the laboratory as well as annoyance in the survey. Noise sensitivity and attitude toward upper-unit neighbours were significantly correlated with annoyance in the survey, but the correlation varied by the noise exposure levels under laboratory conditions. Correlation between annoyance and personal and social factors in the survey was found to be stronger than under laboratory conditions.