A new study finds that paying rent is not only hard on the wallet, it can also make you age faster.
A study conducted at the University of Essex and published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that those who rent a home in the private sector experience accelerated biological aging.
The study reveals that the rate of biological aging in renters versus homeowners is nearly twice that of the difference between individuals with jobs and those who are unemployed. Dr. Amy Clair, the study’s lead author, notes that the effects were also 50 percent more pronounced than the difference observed between former smokers and non-smokers.
The study also found that historical housing factors, such as consistent housing debts and environmental pollution exposure, contribute to faster biological aging. On the other hand, residents of social housing, known for its affordability and tenancy stability, exhibited no difference in the rate of aging than outright homeowners when other housing-related factors were taken into consideration.
The good news is that biological aging is reversible, according to the study, highlighting the significant potential for housing policy changes to improve health.