Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The aim of this study was to determine, as part of a larger research programme, whether or not there are reliable associations between aircraft noise exposure and several indications of psychiatric morbidity and distress.

Main Topics:

Variables (I) Awareness and attitudes to aircraft noise Open-ended questions looking for spontaneous mention of aircraft noise; length of residence, accomodation and satisfaction with it; attitudes to and awareness of noise especially aircraft and road traffic noise (questions developed by McKennell (1963) to form a Guttman scale were used); fear of aircraft; sensitivity to noise. (II) Assessment of health status Respondents were asked to rate their health over the last two weeks, and to indicate, from a list of symptoms, which they had experienced in this period. A series of questions taken from the General Household survey (1976) covered long-standing illness, health visits, medicines taken, and use made of health and welfare services. (III) Background information Age, sex, occupation, household composition, terminal education age, country of birth. Employment background: where worked, whether at Heathrow, or for a company connected with the airport, job satisfaction, whether bothered by noise at work. Ownership of household items, including double glazing.

The area was divided into noise bands on the basis of information supplied by the Civil Aviation Au

Face-to-face interview