title: Evaluating the impact of wind turbine noise on health-related quality of life.
abstract: We report a cross-sectional study comparing the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of individuals residing in the proximity of a wind farm to those residing in a demographically matched area sufficiently displaced from wind turbines. The study employed a nonequivalent comparison group posttest-only design. Self-administered questionnaires, which included the brief version of the World Health Organization quality of life scale, were delivered to residents in two adjacent areas in semirural New Zealand. Participants were also asked to identify annoying noises, indicate their degree of noise sensitivity, and rate amenity. Statistically significant differences were noted in some HRQOL domain scores, with residents living within 2 km of a turbine installation reporting lower overall quality of life, physical quality of life, and environmental quality of life. Those exposed to turbine noise also reported significantly lower sleep quality, and rated their environment as less restful. Our data suggest that wind farm noise can negatively impact facets of HRQOL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, NewZealand. daniel.shepherd@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: Kim N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001307:Auditory Perception; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014919:Wind