Beyond noise and silence: urban soundscapes and their contribution to human well-being—a systematic review and meta-analysis

Soundscapes can substantially influence human well-being, yet evidence regarding their contributions across different well-being dimensions remains fragmented. In this study, a systematic review of 194 studies and a meta-analysis of 66 studies comprising 1658 effect sizes across 28 sound sources were conducted to evaluate the contributions of soundscapes to environmental experience, health, behavioral responses, and social well-being. Natural sounds consistently showed positive effects for well-being-related outcomes (Hedges’ g range: 0.53–0.59), with particularly strong impacts on human health (Hedges’ g = 0.59, 95% CI [0.42, 0.76]). Human sounds showed more targeted benefits, particularly for behavioral responses (Hedges’ g = 0.60, 95% CI [0.24, 0.97]) and social well-being (Hedges’ g = 0.38, 95% CI [0.08, 0.68]). Contextual factors significantly moderated these relationships: the effects of natural sound remained robust across contexts, whereas those of human sound were more context-dependent. These findings highlight the importance of moving beyond conventional noise mitigation approaches by integrating beneficial soundscape elements into environmental planning. Incorporating soundscape planning and design into environmental development strategies can enhance human well-being, inform public health interventions, and support more sustainable and livable cities.