CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC NOISE - THE ROLE OF NEGATIVE SELF-STATEMENTS

This study assesses cardiovascular and subjective effects of traffic n oise and the mediator role that negative self-statements play. Eighty- four female students underwent a. Physiological Reaction Test to two 1 5 min presentations of high intensity traffic noise (85-95 db) under t wo noise conditions, with and without negative self-statements. Half o f the subjects were given specific instructions to increase the credib ility of the self-statements. Dependent variables were heart rate (HR) , blood volume pulse amplitude from both temporal arteries and subject ive tension. Traffic noise provoked subjective tension and cardiovascu lar responses that did not habituate either within or between noise pr esentations. Negative self-statements had the greatest effect on HR. I n fact, this response habituated to a second noise presented only when this condition was without negative self-statements. Instructions inc reased the effect of the self-statements only on the left temporal art ery and also increased subjective tension. The implications of this ph ysiological reactivity in psychosomatic problems and the importance of negative self-statements are discussed.