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Sabrina Philippe (Psychologist)
As winter approaches, a new British study reveals that the cold felt at home can also have a negative role on mental health.
It’s not really what we hoped to hear in the midst of an energy crisis, and in the midst of a sobriety plan that invites us to keep a light hand on the heating. But according to a British study, the temperature of poorly heated homes has negative consequences on the mental health of their inhabitants and the harm seems to increase as the degrees drop…
Twice as likely to develop mental distress
The authors of the report relied on data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, one of the largest panel surveys in the world, carried out among 40,000 households in the United Kingdom, or approximately 100,000 individuals.
The researchers also modeled different situations to best observe the link between mental health and housing temperature. And the result is not reassuring: people living in a cold environment, and who have no history of mental disorders, are twice as likely to develop serious mental distress. People who are already vulnerable would see this risk multiplied by 3.
A loss of feeling of refuge and a withdrawal
The researchers also offer a logical explanation, or even several, for this deterioration in mental health.
Housing that is too cold and unwelcoming induces a decrease in the feeling of autonomy, but also a reduction in the psychosocial advantages of the home, which is no longer perceived as a place of refuge.
“For many, heating costs are a source of stress and financial pressure. Not being able to comfortably heat your home and family reduces your sense of control over your environment”explains the study.
Other mechanisms are also set up, such as social isolation or less restorative nights.
“People who can’t heat their homes limit socializing. They don’t invite friends over and go to bed early to stay warm. And a lot of people are just exhausted from spending an entire winter in an uncomfortable cold”.
A consequence that we did not expect, but which is confirmed by Sabrina Philippe, psychologist of our committee of experts.
“In normal times, the home is the place where you can rest, cut yourself off from the world, be in your cocoon, even if this is not the case for everyone given the poor housing. But generally speaking, it’s the place where we meet and where we don’t present ourselves to the world. When you lose this safe haven and you can’t relax there because of the cold, it inevitably leads to stress and impact on the entire mental sphere.
What temperature for my accommodation?
While waiting for better temperatures, it is advisable to seek the right balance, if possible between energy sobriety and acceptable temperature so as not to be a victim of respiratory or circulatory diseases.
For Ademe, the ideal temperature oscillates between 19 and 21° in the living room, 22° in the bathroom when used, and 17° in the bedroom.
Still according to Ademe, in France, 2 out of 3 people are cold at night when their heating is on and 1 in 5 French people is affected by fuel poverty.
“Despite global warming, the impact of the cold should not decrease in France“, warns solidarites-sante.gouv.fr.
Looking for viable energy solutions is therefore an emergency for our physical and mental health.