Using data on the families of children born in 2008 from the ‘Growing Up in Ireland’ (GUI) study, the findings from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) show that mothers living in inadequate housing and poorer-quality neighbourhoods report more depression, find parenting more stressful, and report greater conflict and less closeness with their children.

The children of these mothers, in turn, face greater social and emotional difficulties at age nine. Inadequate housing includes damp conditions, lack of heating and accommodation being too small, while poorer-quality neighbourhoods refer to areas with more disorder and fewer social supports.

Income is a crucial driver of housing and neighbourhood quality. Low-income families are more likely to live in unsuitable homes, such as damp or cramped conditions; to struggle to heat their homes; and to reside in areas characterised by greater disorder and lower levels of social capital – bonds and support among neighbours. Long-term access to resources also plays an important role, with those excluded from the labour market experiencing poorer-quality housing.

Families of children with disabilities are more likely to live in homes that are unsuitable and in neighbourhoods with more disorder and less social support. Some migrant-origin families, especially of African or Asian origin, are more likely to experience inadequate housing, even taking account of their income levels.

Problems of housing quality, or having to frequently move home, are more common among those living in the private rented and social rented sectors. In addition, families who have experienced adverse life events, such as mental health problems, addiction and contact with the criminal justice system, are more likely to be living in inadequate housing and more disorderly neighbourhoods.

Mothers’ and children’s wellbeing

Living in homes that families struggle to heat is strongly linked to mothers’ wellbeing. They report more depressive symptoms, more conflict and less closeness with their child. They have a more hostile parenting style, find parenting more stressful, and report poorer-quality relationships with their partner.

Mothers in poorer-quality housing, such as overcrowded or damp conditions, also find parenting more stressful, report lower quality relationships with their partner, and have more depressive symptoms. It’s a similar story for mothers who spend more time in privately rented homes compared with an owned home.

Neighbourhood quality is also strongly linked to mothers’ wellbeing. Mothers who spend longer living in more disorderly neighbourhoods and areas with less cohesion among neighbours have more depressive symptoms, a more hostile parenting style, and report more conflict and less closeness with their child.

The impact of poor housing on children is also significant. Those who spend more time growing up in worse housing conditions and poorer-quality neighbourhoods face greater social and emotional difficulties at age nine than their peers. This happens because the impact of inadequate housing on mothers’ wellbeing spills over to harm their children’s wellbeing.

Policy implications

The research findings highlight the importance of addressing housing and neighbourhood quality in promoting family and child wellbeing. The proportion of families found struggling to heat their homes suggests the need for supports for upgrading (retrofitting), as well as additional targeted financial assistance to low-income families.

There is also a strong case for putting in place supports for parents, including those with school-aged children, embedded in both schools and communities. Lower-income families are less likely to feel their local neighbourhoods are safe and supportive – this points to the need for measures to support community development and to enhance local social capital in disadvantaged areas.

Dr James Laurence, lead author of the report, said: “Poorer-quality housing and neighbourhoods appear to put significant strain on parents’ social and emotional wellbeing, with worrying implications for the wellbeing of their children.

“While much of the debate on housing in Ireland has focused on supply, this report shows how the quality of housing and the communities in which people live are also critical for families’ wellbeing. Making housing quality a key part of all new builds and improving the conditions of the existing stock of housing, and our communities, will lead to long-term benefits for families.”

The research, ‘Housing, health and happiness: How inadequate housing shapes child and parental wellbeing’, was funded by the Housing Agency Research Support Programme.