Chronic stress and psychological well-being: Evidence from Thailand on household crowding
This paper examines the effect of one form of chronic stress--household crowding--on psychological well-being, as measured by multiple inverse indicators of psychological well-being. We rely on data from a large (n = 2017) random sample of households in Bangkok, Thailand, a context that has a higher level and broader range of crowding than typically found in the United States. Objective household crowding is found to be detrimental to psychological well-being, controlling for a number of background characteristics. The effect of objective crowding is mediated by subjective crowding, which has strong, consistent and direct detrimental effects on well-being. There is no evidence of a gender effect. Extended family households are not uncommon in Bangkok, but the effects of objective and subjective crowding are similar in both two- and three-generation households, as well as in one- and multiple-couple households. The argument that subjective crowding is an effect, rather than a cause, of psychological well-being is examined and rejected. The findings suggest that crowding, as a chronic source of stress, constitutes a major threat to psychological well-being. Although the empirical analyses are based on data from one city, we frame the issue of household crowding in a historical and theoretical context in order to suggest in which cultural settings household crowding is most likely to have detrimental effects on psychological well-being.
Year of publication: |
1996
|
---|---|
Authors: | Fuller, Theodore D. ; Edwards, John N. ; Vorakitphokatorn, Sairudee ; Sermsri, Santhat |
Published in: |
Social Science & Medicine. - Elsevier, ISSN 0277-9536. - Vol. 42.1996, 2, p. 265-280
|
Publisher: |
Elsevier |
Keywords: | household crowding stress mental health Thailand |
Saved in:
Online Resource
Saved in favorites
Similar items by person
-
Housing, stress, and physical well-being: Evidence from Thailand
Fuller, Theodore D., (1993)
-
Social participation in urban society
Edwards, John N., (1973)
-
Organizational and leadership status
Edwards, John N., (1969)
- More ...