Associations between Home Foreclosure and Health Outcomes in a Spanish City

Mariola Bernal-Solano, Julia Bolívar-Muñoz, Inmaculada Mateo-Rodríguez, Humbelina Robles-Ortega, Maria del Carmen Fernández-Santaella, José Luís Mata-Martín, Jaime Vila-Castellar and Antonio Daponte-Codina
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Mariola Bernal-Solano: Andalusian School of Public Health, 18080 Granada, Spain
Julia Bolívar-Muñoz: Andalusian School of Public Health, 18080 Granada, Spain
Inmaculada Mateo-Rodríguez: Andalusian School of Public Health, 18080 Granada, Spain
Humbelina Robles-Ortega: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Maria del Carmen Fernández-Santaella: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
José Luís Mata-Martín: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Jaime Vila-Castellar: Faculty of Psychology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Antonio Daponte-Codina: Andalusian School of Public Health, 18080 Granada, Spain

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: The financial crisis has caused an exponential increase of home foreclosures in Spain. Recent studies have shown the effects that foreclosures have on mental and physical health. This study explores these effects on a sample of adults in the city of Granada (Spain), in terms of socio-demographic, socio-economic and process characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was administered to obtain information on self-perceived changes in several indicators of physical and mental health, consumption of medications, health-related behaviors and use of health services. A total of 205 persons, going through a foreclosure process, participated in the study. 85.7% of the sample reported an increase of episodes of anxiety, depression, and stress; 82.6% sleep disturbances; 42.8% worsening of previous chronic conditions, and 40.8% an increase in consumption of medication. Women, married persons and persons already in the legal stage of the foreclosure process reported higher probability of worsening health according to several indicators, in comparison with men, not married, and individuals in the initial stages of the foreclosure process. The results of this study reveal a general deterioration of health associated with the foreclosure process. These results may help to identify factors to prevent poor health among populations going through a foreclosure process.

Keywords: foreclosures; economic crisis; housing; social determinants of health; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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