Is the Mental Fallout From a Pandemic Moderated by Neighbourhood Characteristics? Evidence From the First Wave of COVID-19 in Great Britain
37 Pages Posted: 10 May 2022 Last revised: 9 Mar 2023
Date Written: May 4, 2022
Abstract
Using a quasi-experimental research design and drawing on several small-area indicators, we examine the role of neighbourhood and outdoor dwelling characteristics in predicting the impact of the pandemic’s first wave on mental health in Great Britain. We find that proximity to blue spaces, such as rivers, lakes or beaches, was associated with lower mental distress during the first lockdown period. Additionally, outdoor dwelling characteristics such as garden space or the presence of a rooftop, terrace or balcony were also associated with less mental distress. Finally, our findings suggest that there were substantive geographic inequalities in impact with individuals living in areas with higher income and health deprivation experiencing on average much higher levels of mental distress. Remarkably, these results are robust to the inclusion of potential sociodemographic mediators. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in population-level mental distress, but crucially these impacts varied sharply across different housing and neighbourhood types.
Note:
Funding Information: This work was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19.
Conflict of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: Subjective well-being; mental health; COVID-19; lockdown; UK Neighbourhood
JEL Classification: I12, I31, J22
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation