Current and former residents' perception of environmental stressors in areas with low and medium exposure: a Swedish case study

摘要

Urban residents annoyed by environmental stressors in their present dwelling possibly move to other areas of the city if they have the option. The prevalence of annoyance and other measurements of response to exposure to noise, odour, vibrations or unwanted light could therefore be lower than expected due to a spatial selection. Is this true also for areas exposed to low or medium levels of environmental stressors? Current residents (n = 144) were compared with those who had moved out (n = 81) during the past 5 years in two areas dominated by detached and terraced housing. One area was classified as quiet with only local traffic; the other was situated in the vicinity of a harbour and a waste water treatment plant generating heavy road traffic, but only of moderate levels. Perceived or remembered annoyance, resulting from environmental exposure to 15 different stressors possibly intruding into the dwelling, was measured using postal questionnaires together with individual factors. No major differences in prevalence of annoyance between current and former residents were found. The results are discussed in the light of place attachment, life satisfaction, self-reported health, and sensitivity.