As rising costs and weakened social safety nets threaten vulnerable families, a new study sheds light on the severe mental health consequences of eviction and housing loss, particularly for children.
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights how a parent’s anxiety and stress over housing instability can profoundly affect children’s mental well-being. The study, led by Jamie Hanson, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, examined data from over 36,000 families to understand the connection between housing-related stress and childhood mental health issues.
“We knew eviction or housing loss could impact adults, but we didn’t fully understand the effects on children,” said Hanson, the primary author of the study.
The findings reveal a troubling link between parental stress about eviction and increased rates of depression and anxiety disorders in children. Specifically, when caregivers expressed significant worry about housing loss, the likelihood of depression in children surged by 10% to 35%. This effect was particularly pronounced among younger children, under the age of 9, where such mental health challenges are typically rare.
“Normally, depression is not common in children under 8 or 9,” Hanson explained. “However, stress about housing loss was correlated with higher reported rates of depression in this age group.”
Interestingly, the study did not find a significant connection between housing-related stress and other mental health issues, such as ADHD or behavioral problems. “While we controlled for various factors, we did not see strong links with these conditions,” Hanson said.
The research underscores how housing instability tends to exacerbate internalized mental health problems in children, like anxiety and depression. Hanson also pointed out the disproportionate impact of eviction and foreclosure on marginalized communities, especially families with young children.
“Housing instability disproportionately affects minoritized racial and ethnic groups, economically marginalized individuals, and families with children,” Hanson stated in the paper.
The study’s findings emphasize the need for urgent action to address housing instability. Hanson advocates for policies such as increased housing assistance and the temporary sealing of eviction court records to protect families from the long-term consequences of housing loss.
“We must do more to protect children’s mental well-being. The situation doesn’t have to be this way,” Hanson concluded.
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