The Relationship Between Housing and Children’s Socioemotional and Behavioural Development in Australia

James O'Donnell , Australian National University
Meg Kingsley, Australian National University

Research often find significant associations between housing characteristics and child outcomes. These are hypothesized to reflect direct and indirect effects, however it is unclear whether these associations exist across the early life course or if they are explained by or mediated through other factors. We investigate this using multilevel growth curve modelling of Australian panel data, focusing on children’s socio-emotional health over ages four to 15. We find that housing characteristics, namely residential instability, family composition, housing tenure and costs and the physical condition of the home dwelling have small significant associations with children’s internalising and externalising behaviors that change over the course of childhood and adolescence. Financial stress and parenting also have associations with children’s socio-emotional difficulties and explain some of the effects of the housing variables. Housing nevertheless remains significant, suggesting that housing disadvantage may compound and add to the effects of broader socioeconomic disadvantage on children.

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 Presented in Session 221. Housing, Homelessness, and Child/Youth Well-being