Housing Disadvantage in Childhood and Health: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Housing is a critical social determinant of health.
• While adult housing impacts are known, childhood housing disadvantage effects on life-course health are less understood.
• This review synthesizes longitudinal evidence on childhood housing disadvantage and subsequent health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review longitudinal studies examining the impact of childhood housing disadvantage on later physical, mental, and behavioral health.
• To assess the quality of evidence and identify potential causal links.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of longitudinal studies (2000-2025) on housing insecurity, affordability, or quality in childhood (0-18 years).
• Risk of bias assessed using ROBINS-E.
• Evidence graded using causal criteria (study design, temporality, confounder control, measurement validity).

Main Results:

• Sixty-three studies from 16 countries were included.
• Insecure housing in childhood was associated with later mental illness, substance misuse, and premature mortality.
• Poor housing quality showed links to respiratory and general health outcomes, with suggestive causal signals.

Conclusions:

• Childhood housing disadvantage may negatively impact long-term health.
• Evidence for causal links is suggestive but often limited by methodological constraints.
• Further longitudinal research and methodological advancements are needed to clarify pathways and inform policy.