Involuntary staying and self-rated health: A multilevel study on housing, health and neighbourhood effects

Abstract

Involuntary staying, or a desire to move without the possibility to do so, is an under-studied topic. In this study, we examine involuntary staying among the residents of post-Second World War Finnish housing estates; we study its frequency, association with self-rated health and role in the relationship between neighbourhood disadvantage and self-rated health. Involuntary staying and poor health are expected to be associated through long-term stress related to housing and health-based selection in inconvenient housing outcomes. Furthermore, we address the self-perceived reasons for involuntary staying and the interaction between involuntary staying and household income. Two types of involuntary staying are distinguished, depending on whether a resident wants to move within or away from the current neighbourhood. The survey data ( n = 7369) from a stratified cluster sample of the residents of 70 Finnish housing estate neighbourhoods are combined with the corresponding geo-referenced register data on these neighbourhoods’ sociodemographic characteristics. Of the residents, 35% are found to be involuntary stayers, and over half of the involuntary stayers want to move away from their current neighbourhoods. Financial concern is the most common self-perceived reason for involuntary staying. Both types of involuntary staying are associated with low self-rated health after adjusting for potential confounders. Being trapped in the current neighbourhood partially mediates the adjusted association between neighbourhood disadvantage and self-rated health. The association between self-rated health and involuntary staying is not modified by household income. In conclusion, involuntary staying is common in the study population and furthers the understanding about neighbourhood inequalities in health.