Housing adequacy and child outcomes in early and middle childhood

Abstract

The mission of the Economic and Social Research Institute is to advance evidencebased policymaking that supports economic sustainability and social progress in Ireland. ESRI researchers apply the highest standards of academic excellence to challenges facing policymakers, focusing on 12 areas of critical importance to 21 st Century Ireland.The Institute was founded in 1960 by a group of senior civil servants led by Dr T.K. Whitaker, who identified the need for independent and in-depth research analysis to provide a robust evidence base for policymaking in Ireland.Since then, the Institute has remained committed to independent research and its work is free of any expressed ideology or political position. The Institute publishes all research reaching the appropriate academic standard, irrespective of its findings or who funds the research.The quality of its research output is guaranteed by a rigorous peer review process. ESRI researchers are experts in their fields and are committed to producing work that meets the highest academic standards and practices.The work of the Institute is disseminated widely in books, journal articles and reports. ESRI publications are available to download, free of charge, from its website. Additionally, ESRI staff communicate research findings at regular conferences and seminars.The ESRI is a company limited by guarantee, answerable to its members and governed by a Council, comprising 14 members who represent a cross-section of ESRI members from academia, civil services, state agencies, businesses and civil society. The Institute receives an annual grant-in-aid from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to support the scientific and public interest elements of the Institute's activities; the grant accounted for an average of 30 per cent of the Institute's income over the lifetime of the last Research Strategy. The remaining funding comes from research programmes supported by government departments and agencies, public bodies and competitive research programmes.

The Changing Social Worlds of 13-year-olds

“…Although there are a number of measures of family background in the analyses, an additional measure is included on whether the family lives in rented accommodation (that is, in the private rented sector or renting from a local authority or approved housing body). This sector was previously found to have poorer quality housing on average and a negative impact on a range of child outcomes (see Laurence et al, 2023). In the appendix tables in Chapters 2 to 4, further analyses are included which examine the relationship with household income, measured in quintiles (fifths).…”

“…However, those living in rented accommodation have smaller peer groups. This may relate to more frequent house moves among this group that disrupt friendship patterns (see Laurence et al, 2023). Alternatively, poorer housing quality (including accommodation being too small) in this sector may mean that young people are less likely to be able to bring friends home.…”

“…Even taking account of parental education and social class, lower levels of involvement are found among those in rented accommodation. This may relate to involvement in organised activities being disrupted by house moves (see Laurence et al, 2023) and/or the lack of green space or local facilities in certain areas. The scale of the gender and social gaps is evident from Figure 3.1.…”

Housing, Health and Happiness: How Inadequate Housing Shapes Child and Parental Wellbeing

“…Families' physical health can be shaped by the physical quality of housing, such as damp and mould, overcrowding, or poor maintenance and dilapidation, as well as poorer physical conditions of neighbourhoods and a lack of social cohesion. These have been linked to an increased frequency of accidents, respiratory diseases, and general poorer health (Bratt, 2002;Dunn, 2000;Laurence et al, 2023b;Lei and Simons, 2021;Robinette et al, 2018). 'Cold homes' in particular are linked to a range of negative health outcomes, such as circulatory and respiratory conditions, influenza, arthritis/rheumatism, and even mortality (Geddes et al, 2011).…”

“…Building on previous research in this area (e.g. Laurence et al, 2023b), this report seeks to address these issues by exploring how experiences of inadequate housing, in terms of housing provision and the conditions and suitability of families' homes and neighbourhoods, have impacted on family wellbeing in Ireland. Wellbeing is a useful lens for examining the effects of poor housing conditions, given the new Wellbeing Framework (Government of Ireland, 2023) and the creation of a new Child Poverty and Wellbeing Unit in the Department of the Taoiseach.…”