Perception of the acoustic environment during COVID-19 lockdown in Argentina

MAURICIO FEDERICO ZALAZAR JAIME

JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

ACOUSTICAL SOC AMER AMER INST PHYSICS

Año: 2021 vol. 149 p. 3902 - 3902

0001-4966

he COVID-19 pandemic has significantly modified the behavior of societies. The application of isolation measures during the crisis resulted in changes in the acoustic environment. The aim of this work was to characterize the perception of the acoustic environment during the COVID-19 lockdown of people residing in Argentina in 2020. A descriptive cross-sectional correlational study was carried out. A virtual survey was conducted from April 14 to 26, 2020, and was answered mainly by social network users. During this period, Argentina was in a strict lockdown. The sample was finally composed of 1371 people between 18 and 79 years old. It was observed that most of the participants preferred the new acoustic environment. Mainly in the larger cities, before the isolation, mechanical sounds predominated, accompanied by the perception of irritation. Confinement brought a decrease in mechanical sounds and an increase in biological sounds, associated with feelings of tranquility and happi