Renters burdened by unaffordable housing costs may be at a higher risk of dying sooner, according to a new study published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.

An individual paying 50% of their income toward rent in 2000 was 9% more likely to die over the next 20 years compared with someone paying 30% of their income toward rent, according to the study from researchers at Princeton University and the U.S. Census Bureau’s Center for Economics Studies. Someone paying 70% of their income toward rent, meanwhile, was 12% more likely to die.

“We were surprised by the magnitude of the relationship between costs and mortality risk,” said Nick Graetz, a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University and the study’s lead author. “It’s an especially big problem when we consider how many people are affected by rising rents. This isn’t a rare occurrence.”

  • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Up next: “You can’t afford rent, therefore you’re at risk for premature death. So we’ll be increasing how much you pay for health insurance.”

      • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        But be sure to sign up for a low interest rate Funeral Loan. You too can live on in the minds of your loved ones: through debt!

    • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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      11 months ago

      Extortionate landlords aren’t going to be influenced by an excessive risk of premature death among extorted tenants.

      Extortionate landlords are only going to care about a study that finds extortionate landlords have an excessive risk of premature death.