Car traffic noise linked to higher stress and anxiety, study finds

A new study has found that listening to natural sounds may reduce stress and anxiety levels and improve mood, while noise from traffic, particularly on highways, has the opposite effect.

According to the research, conducted by scientists from the University of the West of England and the UK's Bat Conservation Trust, natural sounds alone were linked to the lowest levels of stress and anxiety, and also helped people recover their mood more effectively after a stressful event, according to Sputnik.

The study found that the benefits of natural scenery diminished when traffic noise was added. The highest levels of stress and anxiety were recorded after listening to audio clips featuring vehicles traveling at 40 miles per hour. The researchers suggest that reducing traffic speeds in urban areas could offer health benefits beyond road safety, by lowering noise levels and allowing people to benefit more from natural sounds.