IMPACTS OF HOUSING CRISES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN EDINBURGH

Abstract

Housing as a basic need has been acknowledged as a determinant of various health problems including mental health, when it is inadequate. Considering the demanding nature of advance studies on the postgraduate students, adding housing crisis could be impactful on their mental wellbeing with associated academic challenges. Therefore, this study explored the lived experiences of the postgraduate students facing housing crisis in Edinburgh and the impacts of such experience on their mental health. The influence of the experiences on the academic performance and the expected supports to alleviate the challenges were also identified by the study. This mixed-methods study was conducted among the postgraduate students of Institutes of Global Health and Development at Queen Margaret University using an online survey and focus group discussions for data collection. The survey analysis was descriptive quantitative while reflexive thematic qualitative analysis was used for the data collected from the focus group discussions. Constructivist epistemological position was maintained under the relativist ontological perspective in the course of the study. The majority of the participants with housing crisis were females, international students and with either partner or family. Six themes emerged from the qualitative data set which are unaffordability, instability, support system, discrimination, background drivers, and expectations. This study recommended increased awareness for the student support service and amendment to the university accommodation and general rental policies, to accommodate the diversity in the postgraduate students’ characteristics.