Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Whitney Denary, Andrew Fenelon, Penelope Schlesinger, Jonathan Purtle, Kim M. Blankenship, Danya E. Keene
Summary: Almost half of renters in the United States are rent-burdened, but due to budgetary constraints, only a fraction of eligible households actually receive rental assistance, with national waitlists averaging two years. The study found that individuals receiving rental assistance reported less psychological distress compared to those on waiting lists, however, transitions into rental assistance did not show statistically significant decreases in psychological distress.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Urban Studies
Erika Martino, Yuxi Li, Jacques Kali-Opio, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: Humanitarian migrants face challenges in finding affordable and suitable housing during the resettlement process, and this can negatively impact their mental health.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Peter Butterworth, Stefanie Schurer, Trong-Anh Trinh, Esperanza Vera-Toscano, Mark Wooden
Summary: This study examined the impact of lockdowns on the mental health of Australians aged 15 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study found that lockdown measures had a modest negative effect on overall population mental health, with greater decline observed among residents of Victoria, particularly for females and women with young children.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Jack Tsai, Natalie Jones, Dorota Szymkowiak, Robert A. Rosenheck
Summary: The study found that a significant subgroup of adults who are evicted present with persistent housing and mental health issues that are not adequately addressed. Over time, evicted participants experienced increased housing instability and homelessness, with fewer than a quarter receiving mental health treatment during the 9-month follow-up period. The findings suggest a lack of support for individuals facing eviction with ongoing mental health challenges.
SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sarah L. McGuinness, Owen Eades, Kelsey L. Grantham, Shannon Zhong, Josphin Johnson, Peter A. Cameron, Andrew B. Forbes, Jane R. W. Fisher, Carol L. Hodgson, Jessica Kasza, Helen Kelsall, Maggie Kirkman, Grant M. Russell, Philip L. Russo, Malcolm R. Sim, Kasha Singh, Helen Skouteris, Karen Smith, Rhonda L. Stuart, James M. Trauer, Andrew Udy, Sophia Zoungas, Karin Leder
Summary: This study assessed the mental health and wellbeing of health and aged care workers in Australia during the second and third years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that burnout was more frequently reported and mean wellbeing and resilience scores were lower in mid-2022 compared to mid-2021. Therefore, evidence-based mental health and wellbeing programs for workers in healthcare organizations are needed.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Sonia Terhaag, Emla Fitzsimons, Galina Daraganova, Praveetha Patalay
Summary: This study investigated sex, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequalities in emotional difficulties in children and adolescents in the UK and Australia. The findings show that Australian children had higher emotional difficulties compared to UK children, and there were differences in the patterns of inequalities based on gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status between the two countries. Understanding these country-specific drivers of inequalities is crucial for reducing disparities in child and adolescent mental health.
JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Richard Tawiah, Carol Jagger, Kaarin J. Anstey, Kim M. Kiely
Summary: This study analyzed data from two cohorts in Australia to evaluate trends in health expectancies among different socioeconomic groups. The findings showed that social disparities in health expectancies have been maintained, and have increased for some outcomes in Australia over the past two decades.
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ang Li, Mathew Toll, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: This study examines the long-term health and housing effects of climate-related disasters on individuals in Australia. The findings show that such disasters have significant negative effects on mental, emotional, social, and physical wellbeing, especially for those who are already vulnerable due to housing affordability stress and poor housing quality.
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ang Li, Emma Baker, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: Using a longitudinal dataset in Australia, this study finds that stable rental tenure has a protective effect on mental health and that the mental health of private renters becomes comparable to that of homeowners over time.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Nimrod Hertz-Palmor, Tyler M. Moore, Doron Gothelf, Grace E. DiDomenico, Idit Dekel, David M. Greenberg, Lily A. Brown, Noam Matalon, Elina Visoki, Lauren K. White, Megan M. Himes, Maya Schwartz-Lifshitz, Raz Gross, Ruben C. Gur, Raquel E. Gur, Itai M. Pessach, Ran Barzilay
Summary: The study showed that income loss and financial strain due to COVID-19 were associated with depressive symptoms and their exacerbation over time. These effects were found to be distinct from pandemic-related anxiety, highlighting specific links between the economic impact of COVID-19 and psychiatric outcomes.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Paria Akbari, Seyed-Abbas Yazdanfar, Seyed-Bagher Hosseini, Saeid Norouzian-Maleki
Summary: During house quarantine, environmental factors have a greater impact on residents' housing preferences and mental health. Residents in private houses have better mental health than residents in low-rise or high-rise housing.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shiva Raj Mishra, Tim Wilson, Hassan Andrabi, Driss Ait Ouakrim, Ang Li, Edifofon Akpan, Rebecca Bentley, Tony Blakely
Summary: Eliminating cold housing can lead to significant health gains, reduce health inequalities, save on health expenditure, and increase productivity. Further research is needed to reduce uncertainty about the causal associations between cold and mental and respiratory health.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Vanessa S. Sakalidis, Alethea Rea, Sharon L. Perrella, Jacki McEachran, Grace Collis, Jennifer Miraudo, Stuart A. Prosser, Lisa Y. Gibson, Desiree Silva, Donna T. Geddes
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the wellbeing of new mothers and their breastfeeding experience, with restrictions on access to support networks. This study highlights the need for adaptable perinatal services and access to continuous education and clinical care for women experiencing concerns about breastfeeding and maternal wellbeing.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dannielle Post, Alison Barrett, Amy Baker, Jocelyn Kernot, Gaynor Parfitt
Summary: This study explored the experiences and perceptions of family carers in their caring role, highlighting their tendency to overlook support for their own wellbeing concerns. The findings suggest the need for comprehensive support services targeting the physical and psychological wellbeing of family carers of veterans.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Juli Carrere, Hugo Vasquez-Vera, Alba Perez-Luna, Ana M. Novoa, Carme Borrell
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the mental health of people with housing insecurity, considering housing tenure and the coexistence of other life insecurities. The results showed that poor mental health was highly prevalent in women living in squats or experiencing food insecurity, and the severity increased with the number of coexisting insecurities. There was no clear pattern for men. These findings highlight the complexity and importance of addressing housing insecurity in individuals' mental health.
JOURNAL OF URBAN HEALTH-BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Zoe Aitken, Eric Emerson, Anne Marie Kavanagh
Summary: This study found that there were no significant differences in COVID-19 vaccination coverage and hesitancy between people with disability, long-term health conditions, and carers compared to the general population in Australia.
HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ang Li, Mathew Toll, Erika Martino, Ilan Wiesel, Ferdi Botha, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: Extreme weather and climate-related disaster events have different impacts on people's mental and physical health recovery. Pre-existing mental and physical conditions are significant risk factors, while vulnerability in the form of housing affordability stress, lower household income, and lack of community attachment, participation and safety also contribute to ongoing health problems post-disaster.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shiva Raj Mishra, Tim Wilson, Hassan Andrabi, Driss Ait Ouakrim, Ang Li, Edifofon Akpan, Rebecca Bentley, Tony Blakely
Summary: Eliminating cold housing can lead to significant health gains, reduce health inequalities, save on health expenditure, and increase productivity. Further research is needed to reduce uncertainty about the causal associations between cold and mental and respiratory health.
SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Cynthia Faye Barlow, Lyrian Daniel, Emma Baker
Summary: Australia's cold winter climate and its health effects are often overlooked due to the perception of the country as having a warm climate. However, the majority of the population live in temperate regions that experience cold winters. Previous estimates of cold prevalence in Australian homes have been low, but this study using high-resolution temperature data shows that 81% of sampled homes had temperatures below the internationally recognized benchmark for defining cold. These initial findings challenge previous estimates and have important implications for health modeling and policy development.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Studies
Emma Baker, Rebecca Bentley
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOUSING POLICY
(2023)
Article
Social Issues
Gemma Sansom, Cynthia Faye Barlow, Lyrian Daniel, Emma Baker
Summary: The social housing sector in Australia houses vulnerable groups of people, such as those with disabilities and chronic health conditions, the aged, and those unable to work. This study examines the temperature conditions in Australian social housing and the experiences of tenants, as well as possible solutions to address poor temperature conditions. The findings indicate that a majority of participants spent a significant amount of time outside the recommended temperature range, perceiving their homes to be cold during cold weather. Building conditions, such as poor sealing and lack of insulation, were identified as major concerns. Participants expressed a preference for energy-efficient improvements through draft sealing and insulation.
AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES
(2023)
Article
Geography
Lyrian Daniel, Emma Baker, Andrew Beer, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: A large proportion of Australia's housing stock, available for private or social renting, is of low quality, and this has negative effects on residents' health and well-being. This issue is a result of historically weak regulation of housing standards and limited investment in public housing services, which are characteristics of Australia's neoliberal housing regime. This paper examines the institutional contexts of the Homes Act 2018 (UK) and the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act 2017 (Aotearoa-New Zealand) in addressing housing quality problems. From these case studies, five institutional shifts are proposed to prioritize the link between housing and health in Australia: (1) policy objectives should explicitly connect housing conditions and health outcomes; (2) community awareness and sector advocacy should be utilized to overcome government complexities; (3) policy approaches should promote collective social responsibility; (4) mandatory requirements should be transparent and objective; and (5) robust protocols for tracking progress should be developed and implemented.
REGIONAL STUDIES REGIONAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rebecca Bentley, Lyrian Daniel, Yuxi Li, Emma Baker, Ang Li
Summary: Houses in mild-climate countries like Australia are not designed to provide sufficient protection during cold weather, leading to reliance on energy for heating. The inability to afford heating expenses can result in exposure to cold indoor temperatures and have negative effects on mental and physical health.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-WESTERN PACIFIC
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amber Howard, Adelle Mansour, Georgia Warren-Myers, Christopher Jensen, Rebecca Bentley
Summary: This study conducted a scoping review to examine the associations between asthma and housing characteristics. Through a housing typologies framework, nine housing characteristics relevant to asthma were identified and categorized into three levels: location, dwelling, and occupancy. Environmental pollutants, especially air pollutants, were found to be potentially important risk factors for asthma. However, inconsistent results were reported regarding the associations between dwelling features and occupancy features and asthma, highlighting the need for further research in these areas.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amy Clair, Emma Baker, Meena Kumari
Summary: Housing circumstances, particularly the psychosocial elements of housing, have been found to affect health through biological ageing, measured using DNA methylation. This study combines data on housing and DNA methylation to explore the association between housing and biological ageing. The results show that living in a privately rented home is associated with faster biological ageing, and historical housing circumstances such as repeated housing arrears and exposure to pollution/environmental problems also contribute to faster biological ageing.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Cynthia Faye Barlow, Lyrian Daniel, Rebecca Bentley, Emma Baker
Summary: Researchers from different fields are paying more attention to cold housing environments. However, there is a lack of standardisation in defining and measuring cold housing environments, hindering the ability to combine evidence and formulate policy responses. A systematic review of literature was conducted to document the measures used and propose a conceptualisation of cold housing. Accurate data on home temperatures for all population groups, combined with an understanding of factors leading to cold homes, will enable appropriate policy response to reduce adverse health effects and costs. Policies targeting better building standards and energy subsidies both improve temperature conditions in housing environments.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Matthew J. Troese, Elodie Burlet, Madeleine W. Cunningham, Kathy Alvarez, Rebecca Bentley, Nissy Thomas, Shanna Carwell, Garry L. Morefield
Summary: This study evaluated the safety of the GAS vaccine candidate VaxiStrep in rabbits and found that it elicited a strong immune response without adverse events or toxicity. The vaccine did not cause autoimmune pathology and did not cross-react with proteins associated with rheumatic heart disease or Sydenham chorea.
