Physical and mental health outcomes following housing improvements: evidence from the GoWell study

Background Existing research points towards physical and mental health gains from housing improvements, but findings are inconsistent and often not statistically significant. The detailed characteristics and variability of housing improvement works are problematic and studies are often small, not ex...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2015-01, Vol.69 (1), p.12-19
Main Authors: Curl, Angela, Kearns, Ade, Mason, Phil, Egan, Matthew, Tannahill, Carol, Ellaway, Anne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Employment - classification
Employment - economics
Employment - statistics & numerical data
Experimental design
Fabrics
Female
Health Status
Heating
Households
Housing
Housing - standards
Housing - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Insulation
Intervention
Investments
Kings
Linear Models
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Poverty Areas
Public policy
Quality Improvement - standards
Quality Improvement - statistics & numerical data
Quality of life
Scotland
Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Background Existing research points towards physical and mental health gains from housing improvements, but findings are inconsistent and often not statistically significant. The detailed characteristics and variability of housing improvement works are problematic and studies are often small, not experimental, with short follow-up times. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used to assess the impact on physical health and mental health (using SF-12v2 Physical and Mental health component summary scales) of four types of housing improvement works—central heating, ‘Secured By Design’ front doors, fabric works, kitchens and bathrooms—both singly and in pairwise combinations. A longitudinal sample of 1933 residents from 15 deprived communities in Glasgow, UK was constructed from surveys carried out in 2006, 2008 and 2011. Sociodemographic characteristics and changes in employment status were taken into account. Results Fabric works had positive associations with physical health (+2.09, 95% CI 0.13 to 4.04) and mental health (+1.84, 95% CI 0.04 to 3.65) in 1–2 years. Kitchens and bathrooms had a positive association with mental health in 1–2 years (+2.58, 95% CI 0.79 to 4.36). Central heating had a negative association with physical health (−2.21, 95% CI −3.74 to −0.68). New front doors had a positive association with mental health in
ISSN:0143-005X
1470-2738
DOI:10.1136/jech-2014-204064