Housing as an Environmental Factor in Mental Health: The Johns Hopkins Longitudinal Study

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Abstract
Before-after comparisons on social-psychological variables were made between 396 "test" families who moved from bad housing to good housing and 633 matched "control" families who remained in generally poorer housing. Eighteen months after the move of "test" families to good housing, findings reveal consistent "test" gains on (a) satisfaction with living quarters, including safety of children''s play places, lack of discomfiture from crowding, etc.; (b) things the family does together, and (c) promotive relationships with neighbors. There are smaller differences or no differences at all on the basis of (d) perceived status rise and (e) psychological variables like morale, nervousness, and mood. Further analysis reveals that "control" families have also improved their housing somewhat in the 18-month period, and that in that group amount of "before"-"after" gain is related to extent of housing improvement.

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