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Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown

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  • Alessandro Morganti

    (Design & Health Lab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Andrea Brambilla

    (Design & Health Lab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Andrea Aguglia

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Andrea Amerio

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Norberto Miletto

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Nicolò Parodi

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Chiara Porcelli

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Anna Odone

    (Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy)

  • Alessandra Costanza

    (Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva (UNIGE), 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Carlo Signorelli

    (School of Medicine, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy)

  • Gianluca Serafini

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Mario Amore

    (Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), Section of Psychiatry, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
    IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy)

  • Stefano Capolongo

    (Design & Health Lab, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

COVID-19 outbreak imposed rapid and severe public policies that consistently impacted the lifestyle habits and mental health of the general population. Despite vaccination, lockdown restrictions are still considered as potential measures to contrast COVID-19 variants spread in several countries. Recent studies have highlighted the impacts of lockdowns on the population’s mental health; however, the role of the indoor housing environment where people spent most of their time has rarely been considered. Data from 8177 undergraduate and graduate students were collected in a large, cross-sectional, web-based survey, submitted to a university in Northern Italy during the first lockdown period from 1 April to 1 May 2020. Logistic regression analysis showed significant associations between moderate and severe depression symptomatology (PHQ-9 scores ≥ 15), and houses with both poor indoor quality and small dimensions (OR = 4.132), either medium dimensions (OR = 3.249) or big dimensions (OR = 3.522). It was also found that, regardless of housing size, poor indoor quality is significantly associated with moderate–severe depressive symptomatology. Further studies are encouraged to explore the long-term impact of built environment parameter modifications on mental health, and therefore support housing and public health policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Morganti & Andrea Brambilla & Andrea Aguglia & Andrea Amerio & Norberto Miletto & Nicolò Parodi & Chiara Porcelli & Anna Odone & Alessandra Costanza & Carlo Signorelli & Gianluca Serafini &, 2022. "Effect of Housing Quality on the Mental Health of University Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-11, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:5:p:2918-:d:762558
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ilaria Riboldi & Chiara Alessandra Capogrosso & Susanna Piacenti & Angela Calabrese & Susanna Lucini Paioni & Francesco Bartoli & Cristina Crocamo & Giuseppe Carrà & Jo Armes & Cath Taylor, 2023. "Mental Health and COVID-19 in University Students: Findings from a Qualitative, Comparative Study in Italy and the UK," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Amaya Perez-Brumer & Rebecca Balasa & Aarti Doshi & Jessica Brogdon & Thuy Doan & Catherine E. Oldenburg, 2022. "COVID-19 Related Shifts in Social Interaction, Connection, and Cohesion Impact Psychosocial Health: Longitudinal Qualitative Findings from COVID-19 Treatment Trial Engaged Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Riko Kawashita & Haruka Kato, 2024. "Mental Health and Parent–Child Residential Distance for Older People: Cross-Sectional Study Using a Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-12, February.
    5. Maddalena Buffoli & Silvia Mangili & Stefano Capolongo & Andrea Brambilla, 2022. "Explorative Study on Urban Public Space Renovation during COVID-19: Test of a Visual Web-Based Survey about the City of Saint German en Laye, France," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.

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