Exploring housing insecurity in relation to student success

Abstract

Objectives

The relative high rates of homelessness and housing insecurity among college students has become a public health concern within the U.S. This study explores the relationship between housing instability in relation to academic and mental health outcomes.

Participants

College students attending a larger public university (N = 1,416 students; M age = 22.54; 47.2% Pell Eligible; 54.6% racially/ethnically minoritized students) were surveyed employing cluster-sampling in the Fall Semester of 2019.

Methods

Participants completed validated measures of housing instability, mental health outcomes, and demographics. Additional measures were matched with survey responses through the Office of Institutional Research (i.e., GPA, Pell Grant eligibility).

Results

Students who experienced housing insecurity and homelessness were more likely to have a lower GPA as well as poorer mental health outcomes.

Conclusion

Findings highlight implications surrounding the need for housing programs and additional financial support in an effort to bolster students’ academic performance and mental well-being.

Keywords:

• Education
• homelessness
• housing insecurity
• mental health

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States of America and received approval from the California State University, Chico.

Additional information

Funding

California State University Chancellor’s Office. The authors would like to thank the California State University Chancellor’s Office for funding this study.