Housing distress and subsequent health and well-being among older adults: An outcome-wide longitudinal approach

Housing insecurity is increasing among older adults in the U.S., yet the impact of housing-related distress on health and well-being in this population is understudied. This study uses three waves of prospective data from a national sample of U.S. adults aged 50+ years (Health and Retirement Study, N = 12,998) to examine associations between housing distress and 35 indicators of physical, behavioral, and psychosocial health and well-being four years later. We also assess differences by military veteran status in stratified analyses. After adjustment for a rich set of potential confounders, we found that housing distress was associated with most (7/12) indicators of psychological well-being and distress (e.g., lower life satisfaction, purpose; higher depressive symptoms, hopelessness), some (3/14) indicators of physical health (e.g., more chronic conditions, lower self-rated health), and higher loneliness, but was not associated with health behaviors after correction for multiple testing. Results stratified by veteran status indicated stronger associations among non-veterans. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to reduce housing insecurity among older adults and mitigate its psychological and physical health consequences. • Housing distress predicted reduced psychological well-being in older adults. • Associated with greater psychological distress, poorer health, and more loneliness. • Little evidence observed for associations of housing distress with health behaviors. • Associations differed by veteran status, with stronger effects among non-veterans.