The Housing Environment and Women's Health

Design for Health: The Relationship Between Design and Noncommunicable Diseases

“…Furthermore, a combination of crowding, graffiti (Halpern, 1995;Weich et al, 2002;Yanos, 2007), abandoned buildings (Araya et al, 2007;Halpern;Latkin & Curry, 2003;Yanos), vandalism and street litter (Galea, Ahern, Rudenstine, Wallace, & Vlahov, 2005;Latkin & Curry;Steptoe & Feldman, 2001), building maintenance Wilson et al, 2004;Yanos), traffic and parking (Wilson et al), dampness, a lack of spaces that are conducive to stopping and talking (Guite & Clark, 2006), perceived lack of personal safety (Baum & Palmer, 2002;Guite & Clark), a paucity of green spaces and recreational facilities (Araya et al; Baum & Palmer; Yanos) and noise (Guite & Clark, 2006;Halpern, 1995;Weich et al, 2002;Wilson et al;Yanos) are associated with depressive and chronic symptoms, distress, and well-being in neighborhoods. Similar factors have been reported for dwellings, with the addition of housing type and location (McCarthy, Byrne, Harrison, & Keithley, 1985), nowhere to escape (i.e., green spaces and community facilities), major structural problems and lack of privacy (Duvall & Booth, 1978).…”

Housing and Mental Health: A Review of the Evidence and a Methodological and Conceptual Critique

“…First, the independent variables are often subjectively defined or based on self‐report. For instance, in Hopton and Hunt (1996), dampness is subjectively assessed; in Brown, Brolcháin, and Harris (1975), Duvall and Booth (1978), Smith, Smith, Kearns, and Abbott (1993), and Obasanjo (1998), housing problems are based on self‐report. This is particularly problematic when the dependent variable is also based on self‐report (which psychological well‐being often is) because some of the covariance between housing quality and mental health may be created by the overlap in method.…”

The Effects of Crowding Found in The Toronto Study: Some Methodological and Empirical Questions

“…We feel it would be very useful if Booth and his colleagues would either attempt to reconcile his contradictory findings and stated conclusions or provide the reader with some guidelines on how to interpret their contradictory results. We would note the most recent publication by Booth (Duvall and Booth, 1978) does not fit into either of these patterns. That paper has to do with aspects of the housing environment, one of which has to do with "perceived space and privacy problems."…”