Environmental noise as a socioeconomic stressor: evidence from a systematic review

Environmental noise affects multiple dimensions of human well-being, including economic conditions, social equity, and psychosocial functioning. Nevertheless, evidence on its socioeconomic outcomes remains fragmented across different noise sources and study settings. This systematic review synthesized the available evidence on the socioeconomic impacts of environmental noise exposure. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies published since 2000 in English or Persian. Eligible studies quantitatively examined associations between environmental noise exposure and socioeconomic outcomes. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by multiple reviewers, and methodological quality was assessed using design-specific critical-appraisal instruments, including the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklists. Fifty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, including cross-sectional ( n = 48, 82.8%), cohort ( n = 3, 5.2%), quasi-experimental ( n = 3, 5.2%), case ( n = 3, 5.2%), and observational studies ( n = 1, 1.7%). Transportation noise was the predominant exposure category ( n = 50, 86.2%), followed by community/residential noise ( n = 6, 10.3%) and multiple-source noise ( n = 2, 3.5%). Economic outcomes were the most frequently investigated outcomes ( n = 26, 44.8%), particularly housing-market effects ( n = 21, 36.2%). Higher noise exposure was disproportionately concentrated in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and was associated with lower income, greater deprivation, annoyance, psychological distress, sleep disturbance, and reduced quality of life. Environmental noise is associated with substantial socioeconomic outcomes, including economic losses, psychosocial burden, and environmental inequalities. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating noise mitigation into urban-planning and public-health strategies aimed at promoting healthier and more equitable living environments.