Rent Burden and Depression Among Mothers: an Analysis of Primary Caregiver Outcomes

Abstract

Using national longitudinal survey data from the Fragile Families & Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this study builds on existing knowledge about housing insecurity, female caregivers, and well-being. The study analyzed the relationship between housing cost burdens (HCB) and depression among a sample ( N = 399) of predominantly (67.6%) Black non-Hispanic mothers and other female primary caregivers. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model yielded results that indicate housing cost burden among mothers and other female primary caregivers has a statistically significant association with meeting symptoms of depression and liberal criteria for depression as measured by the CIDI-SF survey instrument. This study contributes to the knowledge base of health outcomes related to housing cost burden by providing a unique analysis of the association of depression and housing cost burden at an unprecedented scale by using data from several consecutive waves of survey responses of a large, multi-city, longitudinal study. The findings hold implications that may inform future policy and research concerning the affordable housing crisis, which disproportionately affects mothers and other female heads of household. Considering the prevalence of housing cost burden in the USA and the disproportionate indications of depression found among housing burdened mothers/female caregivers, the findings of this study may hold implications for housing and health policies that address U.S. communities as diverse as the wide range of communities from which the FFCWS respondents were drawn.

Exploring the association between housing insecurity and mental health among renters: A systematic review

“…Only one study, conducted by Rodgers et al (2019), analyzed the general population of renters, while another study, by Mason et al (2013), conducted an additional analysis investigating high-income renters; both studies found no association. Among the findings specific to low-income renters, six showed statistical significance (Arundel et al, 2022; Baker et al, 2019; Baker, Lester, et al, 2020; Elliott et al, 2021; Mason et al, 2013; Reeves et al, 2016), whereas two yielded non-significant results (Chambers et al, 2015; Prentice & Scutella, 2020).…”

“…Housing cost burden in a low-income sample (equivalent to '30/40' measure) Bentley et al, (2016); Elliott et al (2021) Housing affordability stress/ '30/40' measure Arundel et al (2022); Mason et al (2013) Housing affordability stress pattern Aggregated housing cost burden Rodgers et al (2019) Amount of 'out-of-pocket rent'/ residual income Amount of housing benefits Reeves et al (2016) Receiving housing assistance Chambers et al (2015) Living in social housing Prentice & Scutella ( 2020)…”

“…The majority of the selected studies utilized screening tools to measure symptoms of mental disorders, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2; Kroenke et al, 2003) or screening for maternal depression. Moreover, with the exception of one study in which trained clinical interviewers conducted home interviews (Chambers et al, 2015) and two studies that used a clinical-diagnostic interview (Desmond & Kimbro, 2015; Elliott et al, 2021), all other studies relied on self-report outcome instruments.…”

“…Of the nine studies examined in this review that investigated the association between housing affordability and mental health among renters, six found that unaffordable housing was significantly associated with a decline in mental health. Five of these studies employed a longitudinal design (Arundel et al, 2022; Baker, Lester, et al, 2020; Bentley et al, 2016; Elliott et al, 2021; Mason et al, 2013) and one a quasi-experimental design (Reeves et al, 2016). One quasi-experimental study (Prentice & Scutella, 2020) reported an inverse association, while one cross-sectional (Chambers et al, 2015) and one longitudinal study (Rodgers et al, 2019) found no significant association between housing affordability and mental health.…”

“…Four studies explored the association between housing affordability and depressive symptoms among renters. Elliott et al (2021) found a significant positive association between rent burden and maternal depression.…”