Association Between Multidimensional Housing Precarity and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults: Findings from the National Survey of Older Koreans, 2023.
Housing precarity (HP) is a fundamental determinant of well-being and health among older adults.
We explored the association between housing precarity and cognitive function among older adults in South Korea.
Population-based, cross-sectional survey.
A nationwide community-dwelling sample of 9796 adults aged ≥ 65 years was analyzed.
Based on the theoretical framework established in the existing literature, HP was assessed across five dimensions: housing affordability, housing tenure, housing satisfaction, neighborhood quality, and community cohesion. The overall HP level was scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 and categorized into four levels: lowest, low, high, and highest. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE~2), and z-scores were calculated. A higher K-MMSE~2 score indicated better cognitive functioning. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between HP and cognitive function. Beta coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.
The mean age of the sample was 73.9 years, with a mean MMSE score of 24.6. Compared to participants with the lowest HP levels, those with the high or highest HP levels had lower MMSE z-scores (β [95% CI] -0.21 [-0.27, -0.15] for high HP; and β [95% CI] -0.29 [-0.35, -0.22] for the highest HP levels). Regarding individual indicators, insecure tenure (not owning a home), housing dissatisfaction, poor neighborhood quality, and low community cohesion were negatively associated with cognitive function.
Among older adults, high HP levels were associated with poor cognitive function.
We explored the association between housing precarity and cognitive function among older adults in South Korea.
Population-based, cross-sectional survey.
A nationwide community-dwelling sample of 9796 adults aged ≥ 65 years was analyzed.
Based on the theoretical framework established in the existing literature, HP was assessed across five dimensions: housing affordability, housing tenure, housing satisfaction, neighborhood quality, and community cohesion. The overall HP level was scored on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 and categorized into four levels: lowest, low, high, and highest. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, 2nd edition (K-MMSE~2), and z-scores were calculated. A higher K-MMSE~2 score indicated better cognitive functioning. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between HP and cognitive function. Beta coefficients (β) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.
The mean age of the sample was 73.9 years, with a mean MMSE score of 24.6. Compared to participants with the lowest HP levels, those with the high or highest HP levels had lower MMSE z-scores (β [95% CI] -0.21 [-0.27, -0.15] for high HP; and β [95% CI] -0.29 [-0.35, -0.22] for the highest HP levels). Regarding individual indicators, insecure tenure (not owning a home), housing dissatisfaction, poor neighborhood quality, and low community cohesion were negatively associated with cognitive function.
Among older adults, high HP levels were associated with poor cognitive function.