Health effects of neighborhood demolition and housing improvement: A prospective controlled study of 2 natural experiments in urban renewal

M. Egan, S.V. Katikireddi, A. Kearns, C. Tannahill, M. Kalacs and L. Bond

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 6, e47-e53

Abstract: Objectives. We took advantage of a 2-intervention natural experiment to investigate the impacts of neighborhood demolition and housing improvement on adult residents' mental and physical health. Methods. We identified a longitudinal cohort (n = 1041, including intervention and control participants) by matching participants in 2 randomly sampled cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2006 and 2008 in 14 disadvantaged neighborhoods of Glasgow, United Kingdom. We measured residents' selfreported health with Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey version 2 mean scores. Results. After adjustment for potential confounders and baseline health, mean mental and physical health scores for residents living in partly demolished neighborhoods were similar to the control group (mental health, b = 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.25, 6.23; P = .185; physical health, b = -0.24; 95% CI = -2.96, 2.48; P = .859). Mean mental health scores for residents experiencing housing improvement were higher than in the control group (b = 2.41; 95% CI = 0.03, 4.80; P = .047); physical health scores were similar between groups (b = -0.66; 95% CI = -2.57, 1.25; P = .486). Conclusions. Our findings suggest that housing improvement may lead to small, short-term mental health benefits. Physical deterioration and demolition of neighborhoods do not appear to adversely affect residents' health.

Keywords: adult; aged; article; case control study; cohort analysis; cross-sectional study; demography; female; health status; housing; human; longitudinal study; male; mental health; middle aged; policy; prospective study; standard; United Kingdom, Adult; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Status; Housing; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Residence Characteristics; Scotland; Urban Renewal (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301275_0

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301275

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