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Interconnected factors influencing family health and wellbeing in overcrowded homes and points for intervention – A qualitative study in London

Eveleigh, Elizabeth Rose; Nixon, Laura; O'Donoghue, Mathilda; Singh, Pratima; McDonald, Rose; Ucci, Marcella; Sheringham, Jessica; (2025) Interconnected factors influencing family health and wellbeing in overcrowded homes and points for intervention – A qualitative study in London. Wellbeing, Space and Society , 8 , Article 100250. 10.1016/j.wss.2025.100250. Green open access

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Abstract

Household overcrowding contributes to poor familial health/wellbeing and is driven by a shortage of affordable housing. Despite being defined by spatial constraints, the other factors influencing and exacerbating overcrowding's impact remain underexplored. Through focus groups and interviews with London-based professionals working with overcrowded families (n = 22) and residents with lived experience (n = 25), using thematic analysis we identify aspects of living in overcrowded conditions which affect health/wellbeing outcomes framed according to levels within the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Besides lack of space, overcrowding affects health/wellbeing via a complex web of interactions across personal circumstances, housing suitability/quality, accessibility of amenities/services, and systemic societal challenges. Addressing these factors could improve the lives of families in overcrowded homes, particularly when rehousing may not be feasible in the short term. Household overcrowding contributes to poor familial health/wellbeing and is driven by a shortage of affordable housing. Despite being defined by spatial constraints, the other factors influencing and exacerbating overcrowding's impact remain underexplored. Through focus groups and interviews with London-based professionals working with overcrowded families (n = 22) and residents with lived experience (n = 25), using thematic analysis we identify aspects of living in overcrowded conditions which affect health/wellbeing outcomes framed according to levels within the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Besides lack of space, overcrowding affects health/wellbeing via a complex web of interactions across personal circumstances, housing suitability/quality, accessibility of amenities/services, and systemic societal challenges. Addressing these factors could improve the lives of families in overcrowded homes, particularly when rehousing may not be feasible in the short term.

Type: Article
Title: Interconnected factors influencing family health and wellbeing in overcrowded homes and points for intervention – A qualitative study in London
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.wss.2025.100250
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2025.100250
Language: English
Additional information: © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. under a Creative Commons license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Keywords: Overcrowding, Housing, Family health, Urbanization
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > Bartlett School Env, Energy and Resources
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Applied Health Research
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10206586
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