Impact of train horn noise on sleep disturbance and mental health

Train horns are commonly used at Australian level crossings to raise people’s awareness of trains and improve road safety. However, the use of train horn could generate broader social effects than road safety. This study aims to investigate the relationships between train horn use and the sleep quality and mental health of people who live nearby an operational train environment. A questionnaire was developed to measure participants’ emotional states (i.e., depression, anxiety and anxiety), sleep quality and exposure to train horns. Participants were divided into three groups according to their residence’s distance to train horn use location, i.e., horn impact group, railway impact group and control group. The data collection is still ongoing, and 105 participants completed the questionnaire to the submission date. Results from primary data analysis showed that participants in horn impact group spent a longer time falling asleep and also reported lower sleep quality scores, as compared to the other two groups. No difference in the emotional states was found between groups. The study provided a lens to examine the negative impacts of train horn use in the Australasian environment and shed light on future train horn procedures and applications.