Home-made blues: Residential crowding and mental health in Beijing, China

Xize Wang and Tao Liu
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Xize Wang: National University of Singapore
Tao Liu: Peking University

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Abstract: Although residential crowding has many well-being implications, its connection to mental health is yet to be widely examined. Using survey data from 1613 residents in Beijing, China, we find that living in a crowded place - measured by both square metres per person and persons per bedroom - is significantly associated with a higher risk of depression. We test for the mechanisms of such associations and find that the residential crowding-depression link arises through increased living space-specific stress rather than increased life stress. We also identify the following subgroups that have relatively stronger residential crowding-depression associations: females, those living with children, those not living with parents, and those living in non-market housing units. Our findings show that inequality in living space among urban residents not only is an important social justice issue but also has health implications.

Date: 2022-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-sea, nep-tra and nep-ure
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Published in Urban Studies (2022)

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