QuantDev Brownbag - Contributions of Housing Insecurity Experiences on Physiological and Epigenetic Markers of Health in Midlife and Older Adulthood

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Abstract: 

Housing insecurity (HI) is an important public health concern that impacts many Americans every day; with 580,000 individuals in the U.S. experiencing homelessness each night, 3.6 million eviction cases being filed annually, 19.8 million families each year facing informal eviction, and 18% of renters (~10 million adults) being behind on rent payments in the face of rising rent and mortgage costs. The associated public health cost of HI issues in the U.S. is projected to exceed $111 billion over the next decade. In spite of the wide range of HI events experienced in the U.S., research has mainly focused on the health impacts of the most “extreme” events of eviction or homelessness. In addition, much of the extant literature on HI and health fails to provide a life course perspective, and focuses primarily on younger populations. With the median age of the population increasing, it is critical to study the health implications of HI events among this midlife and older age demographic, particularly given that the percentage of low-income older adults has increased steadily, and more midlife and older adults are experiencing a range of HI events in recent decades than previously. This dissertation will leverage data from the Midlife in the United States study of midlife and older adults. The present study will examine the prevalence of HI events among midlife and older adults, the pathways by which HI experiences contribute to physiological health among midlife and older adults, and whether adults from minoritized groups are more likely to experience negative health implications related to HI. Specifically, this proposal will assess whether HI accounts for unique variation in health biomarkers and gene expression/epigenetic age acceleration levels (Aim 1), illuminate mechanisms that may explain HI's association with physiological and epigenetic markers (Aim 2), describe demographic characteristics that co-occur with HI (Aim 3a), and illuminate potential unique HI pathway effects to health for minoritized adults by testing Aims 1-2 using racial/ethnic minority status as a moderator (Aim 3b). Ultimately, this proposal will contribute to an understanding of (a) experiences of HI in midlife and older adulthood and their physiological/epigenetic health implications, (b) the mechanisms by which these experiences link with health, and (c) prevention/intervention and policy strategies to mitigate the adverse health impacts of HI on vulnerable adult populations.