The Hidden Costs of Housing Poverty Among Young Adults: Psychological Pathways and Social Interventions

• In Event: 30620 - Section on Inequality, Poverty, and Mobility Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 3: Residential Context, Housing, and Inequality

Abstract

Housing poverty poses a significant threat to young adults' psychological well-being and life satisfaction, particularly amid rising housing costs and labor market instability in South Korea. However, the extent to which social support buffers these effects remains unclear. This study investigates the relationships between housing poverty, loneliness, depression, and life satisfaction, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of loneliness and depression and the moderating effect of social support. Using data from the 2022 Seoul Young Adults Panel Survey (N = 5,083), structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test moderated mediation effects. The findings reveal that while housing poverty was not directly associated with loneliness, it significantly increased depression, which in turn lowered life satisfaction. Notably, social support moderated the indirect effect of housing poverty on life satisfaction through loneliness. At low levels of social support, housing poverty heightened loneliness, leading to reduced life satisfaction. However, at higher levels of social support, this effect diminished and even reversed, suggesting a protective function of strong social networks. In contrast, social support did not moderate the relationship between housing poverty and depression, indicating that psychological distress stemming from housing insecurity may require more targeted mental health interventions. These results highlight the need for a comprehensive policy approach that integrates structural housing assistance, social support programs, and targeted mental health interventions to effectively enhance young adults' well-being.

Authors

• Dae Kyeong Kim, sungkyunkwan unniversity

• Yewhi Park

• Eun Mi Moon, Sungkyunkwan University