Health, Well-Being and Energy Poverty in Europe: A Comparative Study of 32 European Countries.

Harriet Thomson,Stefan Bouzarovski,Carolyn Snell

doi:10.3390/ijerph14060584

Abstract

Despite growing pan-European interest in and awareness of the wide-ranging health and well-being impacts of energy poverty—which is characterised by an inability to secure adequate levels of energy services in the home—the knowledge base is largely British-centric and dominated by single-country studies. In response, this paper investigates the relationship between energy poverty, health and well-being across 32 European countries, using 2012 data from the European Quality of Life Survey. We find an uneven concentration of energy poverty, poor health, and poor well-being across Europe, with Eastern and Central Europe worst affected. At the intersection of energy poverty and health, there is a higher incidence of poor health (both physical and mental) amongst the energy poor populations of most countries, compared to non-energy poor households. Interestingly, we find the largest disparities in health and well-being levels between energy poor and non-energy poor households occur within relatively equal societies, such as Sweden and Slovenia. As well as the unique challenges brought about by rapidly changing energy landscapes in these countries, we also suggest the relative deprivation theory and processes of social comparison hold some value in explaining these findings.

Highlights

Energy poverty is typically attributed to an interaction between low incomes, energy inefficiency and energy prices [1], and may be compounded by other factors such as tenure type, age, and health status [2]
While the findings presented in this paper do not and cannot replicate the nuanced evidence base that links health and energy poverty, a clear relationship between energy poverty and poor health and well-being has been established using self-reported measures
The findings presented in this paper have shown that across the majority of 32 countries in Europe, the energy poor population is statistically more likely to report poor health and emotional well-being than the non-energy poor population, with a higher incidence of bad and very bad SRH, poor emotional well-being, and likely depression

Summary

Introduction

Energy poverty is typically attributed to an interaction between low incomes, energy inefficiency and energy prices [1], and may be compounded by other factors such as tenure type, age, and health status [2]. The Marmot Review into the Health Impacts of Cold Homes and Fuel Poverty [27] found a strong relationship between cold temperatures and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, in addition to links between cold housing and minor illnesses such as colds and flu. Cold homes can promote the growth of fungi and numbers of house dust mites. The latter have been linked to conditions such as asthma. Gilbertson et al find that cold, draught, and condensation are associated with anxiety [37], as is the cost of energy (a point supported by Kaye et al [3])

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