Association of housing precariousness with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation: Findings from a nationwide survey of young adults in South Korea

Adequate housing quality is fundamental to wellbeing. This study examined the associations between housing precariousness (HP), depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among young adults. A nationally representative sample of 14,800 Korean adults aged 19-34 years was analyzed. HP was measured across five dimensions: housing affordability, housing tenure, housing satisfaction, neighborhood quality, and community cohesion. An overall HP score (ranging from 0 to 10) was categorized into four levels: lowest, low, high, and highest. Depressive symptoms were determined based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and suicidal ideation in the past year was evaluated. Logistic regression models calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Among participants, 5.8 % reported depressive symptoms, and 2.4 % reported suicidal ideation. Compared with individuals with the lowest HP levels, individuals with high HP levels (OR: 1.45; 95 % CI: 1.07-1.96) and the highest HP level (OR: 3.22; 95 % CI: 2.37-4.37) were more likely to experience depressive symptoms. Similarly, the odds of suicidal ideation were higher among those with the highest HP level (OR: 3.38; 95 % CI: 2.21-5.19). Each 1-point increase in the HP score was associated with a 1.44-fold increase in the odds of experiencing depressive symptoms (95 % CI: 1.34-1.55) and a 1.46-fold increase in the odds of reporting suicidal ideation (95 % CI: 1.31-1.62). HP is associated with both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among young adults in South Korea. Therefore, multifaceted policy efforts are required to enhance housing quality of young adults.