The Role of Energy Affordability in the Relationship between Poor Housing and Health Status

Fátima Lima, Paula Ferreira () and Vítor Leal
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Fátima Lima: Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto, 4200-026 Porto, Portugal
Paula Ferreira: ALGORITMI Research Centre, School of Engineering Campus de Azurém, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Vítor Leal: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Management Engineering (INEGI), University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Housing quality is a well-established determinant for health and its relevance has been increasing in the context of sustainable development. Prior research has emphasized the importance of adequate housing for the health and comfort of householders. However, this link is still poorly characterized and understood regarding the vulnerable segments of the population. In this study, a mediation analysis is proposed to test and identify the role of energy affordability in the relationship between poor housing and health status. It resorts to microdata from the European Union—Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) database, focusing on the analysis of Portugal as the case study. Research findings confirm the role of energy affordability as a mediator. The research findings supported the energy efficiency as a direct pathway with protective and preventive effect for poor health, followed by energy affordability as a mediated or indirect pathway. A complementary approach that addresses energy efficiency and energy poverty should be pursued to maximize health risk reduction.

Keywords: energy poverty; cold homes; perceived health status; energy efficiency; decomposition analysis; microdata; Portugal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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