Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study

Objective: While the relationship between higher housing cost burden and poorer mental health has been established in lower-income groups, research examining high-income populations is scarce. We aimed to examine this relationship among high-income homeowners in Japan. Methods: We conducted a cross-...

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Main Authors: Kazuya Ogawa, Keiichi Shimatani, Ryotaro Iwayama, Norimichi Suzuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Preventive Medicine Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000269
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author Kazuya Ogawa
Keiichi Shimatani
Ryotaro Iwayama
Norimichi Suzuki
author_facet Kazuya Ogawa
Keiichi Shimatani
Ryotaro Iwayama
Norimichi Suzuki
author_sort Kazuya Ogawa
collection DOAJ
description Objective: While the relationship between higher housing cost burden and poorer mental health has been established in lower-income groups, research examining high-income populations is scarce. We aimed to examine this relationship among high-income homeowners in Japan. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 6753 Japanese homeowners in detached houses. Data were collected as part of an ongoing panel survey, from new survey respondents during Wave 2 (Jul-Sept 2023) and Wave 3 (Jan-Mar 2024). Psychological distress, measured using the Kessler 6 scale, was the dependent variable. The explanatory variable was the mortgage-to-income ratio, categorized into two and six levels. We performed modified log Poisson regression analyses, incorporating income stratification, with missing data handled by multiple imputation. Results: For both overall respondents (PR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.11–1.35) and the high-income group (PR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.09–1.39), individuals with mortgage payment ratios ≥30 % were more likely to report psychological distress compared with those <30 %. While the low-income group showed a marginally similar tendency (PR = 1.21, 95 % CI 1.00–1.46), this association was not robust in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: Higher mortgage payment ratios were associated with greater psychological distress even among high-income homeowners. The impact of housing cost stress on psychological distress may be more extensive than previously recognized.
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spelling doaj-art-c482a43246c34fc988c0e635b2b96ab42025-02-08T05:00:20ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552025-02-0150102987Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional studyKazuya Ogawa0Keiichi Shimatani1Ryotaro Iwayama2Norimichi Suzuki3Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; Corresponding author.Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, JapanGraduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Comprehensive Housing R&D Institute, Sekisui House, Ltd., 6-6-4 Kabutodai, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0224, JapanCenter for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, JapanObjective: While the relationship between higher housing cost burden and poorer mental health has been established in lower-income groups, research examining high-income populations is scarce. We aimed to examine this relationship among high-income homeowners in Japan. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 6753 Japanese homeowners in detached houses. Data were collected as part of an ongoing panel survey, from new survey respondents during Wave 2 (Jul-Sept 2023) and Wave 3 (Jan-Mar 2024). Psychological distress, measured using the Kessler 6 scale, was the dependent variable. The explanatory variable was the mortgage-to-income ratio, categorized into two and six levels. We performed modified log Poisson regression analyses, incorporating income stratification, with missing data handled by multiple imputation. Results: For both overall respondents (PR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.11–1.35) and the high-income group (PR = 1.23, 95 % CI 1.09–1.39), individuals with mortgage payment ratios ≥30 % were more likely to report psychological distress compared with those <30 %. While the low-income group showed a marginally similar tendency (PR = 1.21, 95 % CI 1.00–1.46), this association was not robust in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusion: Higher mortgage payment ratios were associated with greater psychological distress even among high-income homeowners. The impact of housing cost stress on psychological distress may be more extensive than previously recognized.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000269Mental HealthPsychological distressMortgageHousing affordabilityHousing tenureJapan
spellingShingle Kazuya Ogawa
Keiichi Shimatani
Ryotaro Iwayama
Norimichi Suzuki
Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
Preventive Medicine Reports
Mental Health
Psychological distress
Mortgage
Housing affordability
Housing tenure
Japan
title Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
title_full Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
title_short Association between higher mortgage payment-to-income ratio and greater psychological distress among high-income homeowners in Japan: A cross-sectional study
title_sort association between higher mortgage payment to income ratio and greater psychological distress among high income homeowners in japan a cross sectional study
topic Mental Health
Psychological distress
Mortgage
Housing affordability
Housing tenure
Japan
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335525000269
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