Housing conditions affect people’s health. Inadequate housing causes or contributes to many preventable diseases and injuries , including respiratory, nervous system and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Poor design or construction of homes is the cause of most home accidents.
How does housing instability affect health?
Housing instability may impact some populations more than others . Moving 3 or more times in 1 year, often called “multiple moves,” has been associated with negative health outcomes in children. Children who move frequently are more likely to have chronic conditions and poor physical health.
How does housing relate to health?
Substandard housing such as water leaks, poor ventilation, dirty carpets and pest infestation can lead to an increase in mold, mites and other allergens associated with poor health. Cold indoor conditions have been associated with poorer health, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
How does poor living conditions affect an individual?
Studies show that poor living conditions negatively affect physical and mental health . ... Additionally, inadequate or unsanitary living conditions can contribute to the spread of disease, which adds to health care costs, prevents individuals from working and threatens the well-being of community members.
It’s clear that housing conditions can influence our physical health . ... However, housing also has a huge influence on our mental health and wellbeing – children living in crowded homes are more likely be stressed, anxious and depressed, have poorer physical health, and attain less well at school.
How does housing improve mental health?
Secure, accessible, appropriate and affordable housing assists clients with mental health problems and disorders by providing stability and the opportunity to build networks , which helps to maximise the outcomes for clients receiving support from other government and non-government agencies.
Homelessness or unstable housing is a significant social determinant of health. Homeless patients may be predisposed to worse health outcomes due to poor living conditions and food insecurity. Additionally, these patients also tend to have limited resources for self-care.
Adequate housing is protective for physical and mental health. ... They are nine times more likely to live in unaffordable housing , three times more likely to be in poor-quality dwellings, three times more likely to have experienced a forced move, and 11 times more likely to be living in a rented house.
How does poor housing affect health UK?
, respiratory and rheumatoid diseases, as well as hypothermia and poorer mental health . ... The elderly are particularly at risk of health problems relating to accidents and excess cold in the home. Elderly people who have retired may also be financially vulnerable.
Why does poverty affect health?
Poverty can affect the health of people at all ages . In infancy, it is associated with a low birth weight, shorter life expectancy and a higher risk of death in the first year of life. Children living in poverty are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases and diet-related problems.
Does poverty lead to poor health?
Poverty is a major cause of ill health and a barrier to accessing health care when needed. This relationship is financial: the poor cannot afford to purchase those things that are needed for good health, including sufficient quantities of quality food and health care. ... Ill health, in turn, is a major cause of poverty.
How does poor housing affect physical development?
Poor housing conditions increase the risk of severe ill-health or disability by up to 25 per cent during childhood and early adulthood . ... A child’s healthy growth and development are dependent on many factors, including the immediate environment in which they live.
How can poor housing affect anxiety and depression?
Feeling stressed or anxious about housing could also affect your sleep . Poor sleep can lead to mental health problems or make existing problems harder to cope with. You might experience depression or low self-esteem because of housing problems.
How does housing affect depression?
Living in poor housing affects women more than men . Research by NatCen and Shelter found mothers were more likely to suffer clinical depression if they lived in bad housing: 10% of mothers who lived in acutely bad housing were clinically depressed.
How does housing and Urban Development affect your physical and mental health?
There is now a recognized link between urban environments and mental health as cities are associated with more mental health problems compared to rural areas. Estimates include a 40% higher risk of depression , a 20% higher incidence of anxiety and a higher prevalence of schizophrenia.
