Multidimensional housing poverty, physical activity, and depression among young single-person households in Seoul, South Korea.

OBJECTIVES

This study examines the impact of multidimensional housing poverty on physical activity and depression among young single-person households in Seoul, with a focus on sex differences.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of 800 adults aged 19-39 living alone in Seoul was conducted in late 2023. Housing poverty was defined using objective criteria (cost burden and/or spatial deprivation) based on national housing standards and international benchmarks. Among housing-poor participants, additional dimensions, housing and neighborhood dissatisfaction, were assessed to capture perceived disadvantage. Physical activity was assessed using the 2021 Korean Community Health Survey, and depressive symptoms were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Sex-stratified binary logistic regression models were used.

RESULTS

Young adults facing housing poverty reported higher levels of physical activity but also significantly higher levels of depression. Among male, cost burden and spatial deprivation were positively associated with physical activity, while neighborhood dissatisfaction showed the strongest correlation with depression. Among female, depression was significantly associated with housing dissatisfaction, with less variation in physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidimensional housing poverty was associated with elevated depression and varying physical activity patterns by sex. Policy efforts should reflect these differential vulnerabilities.