Housing instability and mental health among renters in the michigan recession and recovery study

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether housing instability-inclusive of eviction, homelessness, moving in with others, moving for cost reasons, or frequent moves-is associated with mental health among renters in the aftermath of the Great Recession of 2007-09.

Study design: A panel survey study.

Methods: We used data from the Michigan Recession and Recovery Study (2009-10, 2011 and 2013), a population-representative sample of working-aged adults, and logistic regression with propensity score weights to examine the association between housing instability over a year and a half and anxiety attack or depression symptoms at follow-up.

Results: Respondents with any housing instability were 14 percentage points more likely to have had a recent anxiety attack, and those who had moved for cost reasons were 16 percentage points more likely. Respondents who experienced eviction were significantly more likely to meet criteria for major or minor depression at follow-up, by 13 percentage points.

Conclusions: Prior evidence of an association between housing instability and mental health is supported by these findings, which are robust to potential confounders, including financial and life shocks, housing quality, and neighborhood poverty concentration.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Housing instability; Involuntary moves; Propensity score weighting.