The impact of debt and financial stress on health in Northern Irish households

Authors:
FRENCH Declan, MCKILLOP Donal G.
Journal article citation:
Journal of European Social Policy, 27(5), 2017, pp.458-473.
Publisher:
Sage

The authors analyse data collected from a survey of Northern Irish low-income households experiencing varying degrees of financial hardship and examine how debt affects health and health-related behaviours. The results indicate that the subjective experience of feeling financially stressed has a robust relationship with most aspects of health, including ability to self-care, problems performing usual activities, pain problems and psychological health. In contrast, the size of the debt, the type of debt or the number of different lenders does not add any extra explanatory power. Additionally, the authors' results indicate that the pathway from financial difficulties to worse health runs through worse diets and increased consumption of cigarettes and drugs. This research is timely as household debt burdens will soon surpass the high levels seen at the time of the financial crisis and the introduction of welfare reform in Northern Ireland will put additional strain on low-income households. (Edited publisher abstract)

Subject terms:
debt, financial management, stress, surveys, low income, health, mental health, coping behaviour;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Northern Ireland
Link:
Journal home page
ISSN online:
1461-7269
ISSN print:
0958-9287

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