Trends of health outcomes and housing among migrants in Australia: Insights from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Study (2013-2023)
1
1 Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
2
2 Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
3
3 Department of Health Promotion and Health Behavior, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2713
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Housing insecurity is a fundamental social determinant of migrant health. While the relationship between housing and health outcomes is well-documented, there is a paucity of longitudinal data examining this association among humanitarian migrants. Accordingly, we aimed to assess i) longitudinal trends in housing insecurity, health and ii) impact of housing insecurity on mental health and physical health outcomes among humanitarian migrants
METHODS:
Measures were drawn from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Study (n=7,526) with repeated measures over six data waves from 2013/14 to 2023. Generalised Estimating Equations with logistic regression were used to test the association between housing insecurity and psychological distress, PTSD and self-rated health, adjusting for potential confounders and time-varying covariates.
RESULTS:
We found that the prevalence of housing insecurity decreased significantly, from 74.6% in Wave 1 (2013/14) to 41.3% in Wave 6 (2023). In contrast, psychological distress showed an alternating trend, increasing slightly from 16.07% in Wave 1 to 19.99% in Wave 6. Similarly, PTSD followed a fluctuating trend, decreasing from 32.12% in Wave 1 to 27.84% in Wave 6; self-rated health remained fairly consistent over time. After adjustment, housing insecurity was strongly related to increased odds for psychological distress (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.39-1.92), PTSD (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.20-1.56), and poor self-rated health (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.21-1.65).
CONCLUSIONS:
Housing insecurity, psychological distress, and PTSD declined over time but showed a slight increase in later waves, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities among humanitarian migrants. However, self-rated health remained stable throughout the ten years. Our study presents strong evidence of the long-term negative effects of housing insecurity on health outcomes for migrants in Australia. Addressing housing insecurity through targeted public health action and housing policy holds the potential to improve long-term health outcomes for humanitarian migrants.
Housing insecurity is a fundamental social determinant of migrant health. While the relationship between housing and health outcomes is well-documented, there is a paucity of longitudinal data examining this association among humanitarian migrants. Accordingly, we aimed to assess i) longitudinal trends in housing insecurity, health and ii) impact of housing insecurity on mental health and physical health outcomes among humanitarian migrants
METHODS:
Measures were drawn from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Study (n=7,526) with repeated measures over six data waves from 2013/14 to 2023. Generalised Estimating Equations with logistic regression were used to test the association between housing insecurity and psychological distress, PTSD and self-rated health, adjusting for potential confounders and time-varying covariates.
RESULTS:
We found that the prevalence of housing insecurity decreased significantly, from 74.6% in Wave 1 (2013/14) to 41.3% in Wave 6 (2023). In contrast, psychological distress showed an alternating trend, increasing slightly from 16.07% in Wave 1 to 19.99% in Wave 6. Similarly, PTSD followed a fluctuating trend, decreasing from 32.12% in Wave 1 to 27.84% in Wave 6; self-rated health remained fairly consistent over time. After adjustment, housing insecurity was strongly related to increased odds for psychological distress (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.39-1.92), PTSD (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.20-1.56), and poor self-rated health (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.21-1.65).
CONCLUSIONS:
Housing insecurity, psychological distress, and PTSD declined over time but showed a slight increase in later waves, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities among humanitarian migrants. However, self-rated health remained stable throughout the ten years. Our study presents strong evidence of the long-term negative effects of housing insecurity on health outcomes for migrants in Australia. Addressing housing insecurity through targeted public health action and housing policy holds the potential to improve long-term health outcomes for humanitarian migrants.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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