Home Mortgage Lending and Neighborhood Mental Health: A Spatial Econometric Analysis of 18 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the relationship between home mortgages and neighborhood mental health across the 18 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the United States. Home mortgages, a primary avenue to homeownership, contribute to housing security and stability. Moreover, their issuance reflects local investment and potential improvements in the built environment, hypothesized to positively influence community mental well-being. Using census tract-level data from multiple sources, we employed a spatial econometric approach, specifically spatial error modeling, to account for spatial dependency and estimate the association between home mortgage lending (2011 to 2020) and the prevalence of self-reported poor mental health in 2020. Our findings indicate a statistically significant

SUBMITTER: Chen L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11865371 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature