Relationship between Mental Health and House Sharing: Evidence from Seoul.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Urban Studies
• Psychology

Background:

• General housing's impact on mental health is known, but shared housing's effects remain understudied.
• Shared housing is a common, viable option for young adults, necessitating research into its impact on well-being.
• Understanding shared housing's influence on mental health is crucial for quality of life assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between shared housing and mental health outcomes.
• To provide empirical evidence on mental health in shared living arrangements.
• To control for self-selection bias in shared housing research.

Main Methods:

• Survey of 834 young single adults in Seoul, Korea.
• Comparison between residents of shared and non-shared housing.
• Application of the residential dissonance framework to control for self-selection.

Main Results:

• Positive attitudes towards shared housing correlate with improved self-reported mental health.
• Forced shared living arrangements may elevate the risk of social dysfunction among young adults.
• Attitudinal factors significantly mediate the mental health outcomes in shared housing.

Conclusions:

• Shared housing can be beneficial for mental health, contingent on occupant attitude.
• Policy interventions are needed to mitigate risks associated with involuntary shared living.
• Recommendations include pre-occupancy interviews and resident behavior codes for healthier shared environments.