Testing the Risk of Child Hyperactivity-Inattention Problems in Families Living with Housing-cost Burden during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Housing cost burden is a critical issue in contemporary society, not only because of the economic strain it imposes on households, but also due to its impact on child development outcomes. This study examines the risk of child hyperactivity-inattention problems across different levels of housing cost burden during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores whether these patterns differ between renter and homeowner families, two groups that experienced distinct challenges to child well-being during this period. Addressing this research gap is crucial for identifying children at high risk of hyperactivity-inattention problems, particularly during times of severe socioeconomic adversity. Using secondary data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (N = 2,589), we applied negative binomial regression models supported by generalized propensity score weighting to strengthen causal inference. The results indicate that among homeowner families, higher housing cost burden is not significantly associated with an increased risk of child hyperactivity-inattention problems. In contrast, among renter families, the risk does not rise significantly until housing costs consume more than 30% of total income. These findings provide timely evidence in support of policies that promote housing affordability as a strategy to safeguard child development, a particularly pressing concern as policy debates consider cuts to social assistance programs addressing housing and child support needs for families most at risk.