Association of Housing Stress, Health, Chronic Disease and Health Care Resources : results from the 2011 North Carolina BRFSS survey

2* QUAM V®** SCHS Studies A Publication of the State Center for Health Statistics 1908 Mail Service Center • Raleigh, NC 27699-1908 (919) 733-4728 • www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS No. 166 June 2013 The Association of Housing Stress, Health, Chronic Disease and Health Care Resources: Results from the 2011 North Carolina BRFSS Survey Harry Herrick, M.S.P.H., M.S.W., M.Ed. Vito Di Bona, M.S. Abstract Prior research has found an association between mortgage delinquency and foreclosure and poor physical and mental health. A new question on housing stress was included in the 201 1 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. In this study, we analyze 201 1 BRFSS survey data to investigate how rates of poor health, chronic conditions and limited access to health resources vary between those who report high levels of worry or stress about not having enough money to pay their rent or mortgage, compared to those who report lower levels of stress. Study outcomes include eight indicators related to self-perceived poor health, high blood pressure, diabetes, doctor-diagnosed depression and limited access to health care. The results show that for all study outcomes, the model-adjusted prevalence rates were statistically significantly higher for the high stress group, compared to the comparable rates for the low stress group. The results of this study support the contention that housing stress is not only a financial or economic concern, but also a public health issue. JWlC nc department of health and human services STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health f North Carolina Public Health