Healthy mixing? Investigating the associations between neighbourhood housing tenure mix and health outcomes for urban residents

Lawder, R., Walsh, D. , Kearns, A. and Livingston, M. (2014) Healthy mixing? Investigating the associations between neighbourhood housing tenure mix and health outcomes for urban residents. Urban Studies, 51(1), pp. 264-283. (doi: 10.1177/0042098013489740)

Abstract

This paper examines the association between housing tenure mix and health outcomes for urban residents. The analysis used Cox’s proportional hazard regression modelling with a range of health measures from two waves of the Scottish Health Survey plus linked hospital morbidity records for the survey respondents. There was no consistent pattern in health outcomes according to housing tenure mix. For specific health issues, particular types of neighbourhood had significantly different (worse) outcomes: areas with a sizeable social renting sector for self-reported health; areas with a sizeable social- or private-renting sector for accidents; and areas dominated by social renting for alcohol-related illnesses. There are indications that adjustments to the tenure mix of social housing areas might lead to improvements in some health outcomes: improved mental health and reduced smoking, via a reduction in area deprivation; and reduced alcohol-related illnesses due to possible effects of tenure mix on material context and culture.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Livingston, Dr Mark and Kearns, Professor Ade and Walsh, Dr David
• Authors: Lawder, R., Walsh, D., Kearns, A., and Livingston, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Urban Studies
• ISSN: 0042-0980
• ISSN (Online): 1360-063X