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

Jeongseob Kim,Jihun Oh

doi:10.3390/ijerph18052495

Abstract

While the association between general housing and mental health has been well documented, little is known about the mental health outcomes of house sharing. As shared housing has been viewed as an economically and socially viable housing option for young adults, a broader understanding of how shared housing affects the residents’ quality of life, including mental health, is needed. In this context, this study aims to provide empirical evidence about the relationship between mental health and house sharing after controlling for residents’ self-selection. We conducted a survey of 834 young single adults living in shared housing and non-shared housing in Seoul, Korea. Then, to control for residential self-selection, we applied the residential dissonance framework. The main findings of this study were two-fold: first, house-sharers with a positive attitude toward shared housing were more likely to respond that their mental health status improved after they started residing in shared housing; second, if young adults are forced to live in shared housing, this could increase the potential risk of social dysfunction of house-sharers. Based on these findings, we suggest policy measures for shared housing, including pre-occupancy interviews, resident behavior codes, and fostering a livable dwelling environment to ensure a healthier life in shared living arrangements.

Highlights

Bhattacharya Becerra, BenjaminAlong with the increase in the number of single-person households and the proliferation of the sharing economy, shared housing where unrelated adults live together has re-emerged as a viable economic and social housing option for young adults [1]
There were no significant differences in the attitudes toward shared living based on socio-demographic attributes such as gender and income level, except for the tendency that younger residents had a more positive attitude toward shared living
The main findings of this study are two-fold: first, the consonant shared housing residents generally showed a better mental health status than the other non-shared housing residents with regard to mental health improvement; and second, there is a possibility that shared housing residents can suffer from the disorder in social dysfunction if they do not have a preference for shared living

Summary

Introduction

Along with the increase in the number of single-person households and the proliferation of the sharing economy, shared housing where unrelated adults live together has re-emerged as a viable economic and social housing option for young adults [1]. House-sharing has been widely adopted by young single-person households, including those in the economically disadvantaged group and those in professional and managerial occupations, to save rent and expand social relationships [3]. Oh and Choi [7] found that many of those who choose to live in shared housing anticipate social relationships with their housemates rather than just saving money. Social opportunities among house-sharers in shared housing do not guarantee positive outcomes in their shared living due to conflicts with housemates and privacy issues [8]. Rugg [9] points out that some young people with concerns over their safety often end up

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