Living Space Inequality Leads to Mental Health Disparities in Asian Cities

Mental health challenges have become an emerging global concern, significantly impacting individuals and societies. On a personal level, these issues often result in a lower quality of life. Societally, they impose considerable financial strain due to medical costs and productivity loss. Hence, Improving the mental health status of urban dwellers is crucial for boosting their well-being and the fiscal sustainability of the public sector.

Housing, especially the provision of living space, is an important factor that policymakers can utilize to promote people’s mental health. Residential crowding, which normally involves either insufficient living space or lack of private space, lowers a person’s sense of control over their surroundings. A reduced sense of control is associated with high stress levels and a greater risk of depression.

For instance, our research on Beijing residents demonstrated that an additional 10 square meters per person lowered depression probability by 27.7%. Those living with more than 1.5 persons per bedroom were 1.2 times more likely to have depressive symptoms. Certain groups, such as women, those living with children, and those in non-market housing communities, were more “mentally vulnerable” to residential crowding.

These findings underscore the need to factor in mental health implications when drafting housing policies and to ensure an equitable distribution of living space. Like all rapidly urbanizing economies, China has seen a substantial rise in the overall supply of living space. However, the distribution of living space has become increasingly unequal. Policymakers should focus on urban residents left behind in the housing boom, ensuring they have ample living space. Public housing programs - either for sale or rent - aiming to provide adequate floor area and rooms for lower-income brackets could ensure equity in living conditions and deliver mental health benefits. Meanwhile, policymakers should pay special attention to the vulnerable sub-groups such as young parents and those living distantly from familial support.

Paper:

Wang, X., & Liu, T. (2023). Home-made blues: Residential crowding and mental health in Beijing, China. Urban Studies, 60(3), 461-482. Link (free to download): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00420980221101707