<![CDATA[Environmental noise exposure in schools near airports may negatively impact students’ cognitive functioning and academic performance. However, the cognitive mechanisms underlying the relation between noise exposure and learning achievement are still poorly understood. This study aims to explore the direct and indirect associations of environmental noise exposure with learning achievement, with a mediating variable of cognitive function measured by the Stroop Test. This research was done on 120 students of elementary, junior high and vocational high school who lived in the vicinity of Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan, Indonesia. The data were analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with 10.000 bootstrap resamples. The results indicated that environmental noise exposure was negatively associated with cognitive function (beta = -0.981, p < 0.001), and cognitive function was positively associated with learning achievement (beta = 2.309, p < 0.001). There was a significant and positive direct relationship between noise exposure and learning achievement (beta = 1.470, p < 0.001), and a significant and negative indirect relationship through cognitive function (beta = -2.266, p < 0.001, 95% CI [-2.729, -1.852]). Overall, the effect was negative and significant (beta = -0.796, p < 0.001) suggesting competitive mediation. These findings indicate that cognitive function is an important mediating factor between environmental noise exposure and learning achievement. Our results provide empirical support for a cognitive pathway based on Stroop interference linking airport-related environmental noise and learning outcomes and provide insights for the assessment of environmental conditions and support of cognitive performance in educational contexts.]]>
