Health, mental health & housing conditions in England
An analysis of the links between fuel related poverty & poor mental and physical health
About this study
This study looks nationally at links between living in a cold home and poor mental health. It explores how different aspects of fuel related poverty affect different groups of people and shows that fuel poverty is key public health issue for the Government.
Key findings from the study include:
People who live alone, disabled people and lone parent households are particularly at risk of fuel poverty.
Living in a cold home or a home that has mould is a predictor of poor physical and mental health, even after taking into account other factors such as a person's financial circumstances. Families with children were much more likely to live in a home with mould.
One in four people living in a cold home were reluctant to invites others to their home, contributing to their social isolation. This is important, because maintaining a social network is a key predictor of positive mental health.
You can read more interesting findings like this here, a research summary here or the full report here.
How we worked
As a result of a research grant from the eaga Charitable Trust, we were able to collaborate with built environment experts at UCL's Energy Institute, including Professor Tadj Oreszczyn and experts in health and mental health epidemiology, Professors Howard Meltzer and Rachel Jenkins.
Potential policy impact
Winter fuel payments are currently restricted to the elderly but our report shows that this is a serious problem for people living alone, lone parent households and disabled people.
Helping people stay warm is not just a matter of improving benefit take up and provision of debt advice services to alleviate fuel poverty. That a link between living in a cold home and poor mental and physical health exists, regardless of a person's financial circumstances, underlining the importance of programmes such as Warm Front, which focus on improving home heating and insulation efficiency.
Method
The study report was based on analysis of data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). The 2007 survey included questions on diverse aspects of fuel related poverty including: self-perceived cold housing, mould in the home, cutting back on fuel usage due to cost and fuel related problem debt or disconnection, alongside questions about characteristics of the property. Participants were asked whether, in the last year, they had had any doctor diagnosed physical health complaints requiring treatment. Questions also assessed if they had a disability or experienced common mental disorders, including depression and anxiety.
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