Citation

Alley DE, Lloyd J, Pagán JA, Pollack CE, Shardell M, Cannuscio C. Am. J. Public Health 2011; 101(12): 2293-2298.

Affiliation

University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2011.300245

PMID

22021301

PMCID

PMC3222434

Abstract

Objectives. We evaluated associations between mortgage delinquency and changes in health and health-relevant resources over 2 years, with data from the Health and Retirement Study, a longitudinal survey representative of US adults older than 50 years. Methods. In 2008, participants reported whether they had fallen behind on mortgage payments since 2006 (n=2474). We used logistic regression to compare changes in health (incidence of elevated depressive symptoms, major declines in self-rated health) and access to health-relevant resources (food, prescription medications) between participants who fell behind on their mortgage payments and those who did not. Results. Compared with nondelinquent participants, the mortgage-delinquent group had worse health status and less access to health-relevant resources at baseline. They were also significantly more likely to develop incident depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR]=8.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.38, 21.85), food insecurity (OR=7.53; 95% CI=3.01, 18.84), and cost-related medication nonadherence (OR=8.66; 95% CI=3.72, 20.16) during follow-up. Conclusions. Mortgage delinquency was associated with significant elevations in the incidence of mental health impairments and health-relevant material disadvantage. Widespread mortgage default may have important public health implications. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print October 20, 2011:e1-e6. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300245).

Language: en