How Housing Conditions Affect Health: Findings From the Turkish National Household Panel Survey

Housing is an important expression of prosperity for a society and a determinant of health and well-being. Despite the fact that the housing industry, which has faced rapid transformation and growth in Turkey since the 2000s, has made many people homeowners, being a homeowner alone does not ensure the subjective well-being of individuals. The conditions of individuals’ houses are also significant for their well-being. Accordingly, the Survey on Income and Living Conditions covering the years 2014–2017 was used to determine whether inequalities in housing conditions are linked to health problems among households. An index that measures the housing conditions of 5,549 households was devised and its effects on self-rated health, along with other socioeconomic indicators, were examined using a random-effects ordered logistic model. The findings indicate that the quality of housing enhances self-rated health in Turkey. More specifically, improved housing conditions tend to increase the likelihood of individuals being healthier. As the results show that inequality in housing conditions has a significant effect on general health, alongside education, gender, and marital status, housing policies should not only focus on the affordability of housing but should also take social welfare indicators into account.