The impact of persistent poor housing conditions on mental health: a longitudinal population-based study

Abstract

Living with housing problems increases the risk of mental ill health. Housing problems tend to persist over time but little is known about the mental health consequences of living with persistent housing problems. We determine if persistent poor housing affects mental health over and above the effect of current housing conditions. We use data from 13 annual waves of the British Household Panel Survey (1996 to 2008) (person/years = 81,745 from 16,234 individuals) and measure the persistence of housing problems by the number of years of the past four that a household experienced housing problems. OLS regression models and lagged-change regression models are used to estimate the effects of past and current housing conditions on mental health, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire. Interaction terms test if tenure type modifies the mental health effects of persistent poor housing. In fully adjusted models, mental health worsens as the persistence of housing problems increases. Adjustment for current housing conditions attenuated, but did not explain, the findings. Tenure type moderates the mental health effects of persistent poor housing, suggesting those who own their homes outright and who live in social housing are most negatively affected. Persistence of poor housing is predictive of worse mental health, irrespective of current housing condition, adding to the weight of evidence that living in poor quality housing for extended periods of time has negative consequences for mental health.