The Impact of Housing Conditions on the Emotion , Behaviour , and Psychological Wellbeing of Middle-Income Groups

Housing remains a major problem for most, especially for the bottom billions; satisfaction on housing is one of the important indicators that reflect the societal wellbeing. This paper provides a meaning and understanding for the relationship between housing conditions and wellbeing; therefore, it evaluates the impact of housing conditions on the emotion, behaviour and psychological wellbeing of middle-income group in Malaysia. In fact, the housing conditions in this research include home size, housing features, as well as safety and security. Respondents of 390 were randomly selected from those middle-income houses in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru (Skudai). The accumulated data were then analysed and descriptive statistics were used to interpret and evaluate the impact of housing condition on wellbeing. The finding showed small but significant positive relationship between housing conditions and psychological wellbeing. However, housing conditions is the contributing factors, which negatively affect the behaviour and attitude of middle-income group children. Overall, this research supports the critical link between good housing condition that is decent, safe, secure, and affordable and positive health outcome.


Introduction
The Malaysian housing policy has developed since its independence from the British in 1957; this policy has pledged to improve housing quality and affordability for all citizens (Salfarina, Nor Malina, & Azrina, 2011).Despite the ambitious nature of this commitment, public policy have paid little attention on the impact of housing condition on dweller's lives and psychological wellbeing.
Issues of housing and wellbeing have become increasingly important in developed countries, and the home environment is of tremendous significance to human beings.The relationship between housing conditions and health has been of policy interest since 1842 when Chadwick noted the low life expectancy of cellar dwellers.The 1998 Acheson Report identified housing and environment as an importance area for reducing health inequalities; concerns repeated a decade later by Marmot in 2010 (Barnes et al, 2013).
It is indeed a tough task to define the relationship between housing conditions and wellbeing developing countries.Although, it has been proven that good housing condition is a key element for ensuring a healthy society (Howard, 2002); whereas the poor housing condition can have an adverse effect on the family's psychological wellbeing (Minton & Jones, 2005).Essentially, it is important in this paper to explain the relationship between housing and wellbeing; the aim is to describe the impact of housing conditions on the behaviour, emotions, and psychological wellbeing of middle-income groups in Malaysia.Based on the subjective matter of this research, qualitative approach was used to facilitate the collecting data.

The Concept of Housing and Housing Conditions
Housing was defined as a place of attachment (Eshelman, Evans & Kantrowitz, 2002), intentions to relocate (Earhart & Weber, 1996), and residential satisfaction (Christensen, Carp, Cranz, & Wiley, 1992).Knowing that absent of the house is assessments of mental health.Housing is a basic human need that Maslow explained in the hierarchy of needs; and it is the first level of need similar to food and drink (Manitoba, 2012).Housing is not just a physical shelter of four walls and a roof; it is about the quality and condition that was expanded in the second level of Maslow hierarchy of need.At this level, Maslow's theory demonstrates on how important adequate housing is for the security and positive development (Martin & Joomis, 2007).Housing usually has a significant impact on dweller's safety and wellbeing.An unsafe environment, for instance, increases the likelihood of harm and injury, which could have implications for the whole family's wellbeing.Housing in poor condition is more likely to contain hazards that could create an unsafe environment for the whole family (Ford, et al, 2004).
The provision of adequate, good quality housing for the population has always been a major challenge and task for most nations in the world particularly the developing countries.As such various measures have been undertaken towards this end.However, the major constraint in this respect has always been in defining the criteria for good housing and the impact of poor housing conditions on the psychological wellbeing.This paper is aiming to discuss in detail the concept of housing and housing conditions.In fact, any definition of housing condition needs to encompass on a range of factors that determine the house to be good/bad (Barnes et al, 2013).The obvious one is the physical condition; housing may be deemed to be bad if it is damp, infested, cold, or in a bad state of repair.Housing may also be considered to bad if it is unable to accommodate the number of people inhabiting it.The environment in which the housing is located is also important.Relevant neighbourhood factors include access to amenities, and environmental pollution is also essential.Security of tenure, the status people attach to housing and the levels of community safety and cohesion in an area are all important features.
Housing size, quality, neighbourhood, location and household composition in any analysis of housing seems to be very important measure (Rowley & Ong, 2012).According to Stone (2006) "Housing quality can not be ignored".The wider concept of "housing" need encompasses many of subjects like housing size, quality, neighbourhood, location, and household composition (Stone, 2006).In deed, many more can be said on housing condition, but the important argument is on the relationship between housing conditions and wellbeing.

The Impact of Housing Conditions on Wellbeing of Middle-income Groups
Mainly, it is difficult to determine the relationship between housing and health because of many variables that are associated with a person's wellbeing.The strength and direction of this relationship, however, remains somewhat contested.A review of academic literature has drawn together strong evidence of the direct impact of bad housing, poor housing conditions, homelessness, and overcrowding on dwellers' life chances.However, given the clear link, the volume of high quality research in this area is surprisingly limited and there is an urgent need for more comprehensive research in this area.Furthermore, areas where the need for further research is particularly pressing are the psychological, social or behavioural effects of poor physical environments; the impact of poor housing on particularly vulnerable groups; and the impact of interventions set up to address housing problems (Breysse, et al., 2004).Hence, this research concern about how housing conditions can affect the behavior, emotion and psychological wellbeing of middle-income groups.
It is great to mention that a safety shelter is the second level of need that contributes to the physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing of the person.There is a strong and well-documented relationship between housing quality and physical and mental health problems (Payne, 2006).Quality of housing at this point may refer to lack of safety, dirty conditions, and sharing of rooms or amenities.Apart from quality of housing, the size of accommodation relative to the number of inhabitants is a key indicator (Atkinson, Cantillon, Marlier, & Nolan, 2002).
Studies have found that poor quality housing can cause psychological stress (Kearns & Smith 1993;Dunn 2002) and can negatively impact self-esteem and family self-sufficiency (Evans et al. 2000;Bratt 2002).Some of the factors contributing to these mental issues include "anxiety about structural hazards, worry and lack of control over maintenance and management practices, and fear of crime" (Evans et al. 2000).Grayling, et al., (2002) indicated that the dwellers living in deprived areas, where the incidence of poor housing is often highest, are three more times likely to be in dangers.Furthermore, Fujiwara (2013) find that those living in a household with pollution, grime or other objective environmental problems with their housing have reduced life satisfaction.Whereas, a dweller's perceived level of safety in their home or local community may also have an impact on their emotional wellbeing (Blackman, et al., 2001).Poor quality housing negatively also influences a child's behaviour and ability to focus at school, increasing stress and causing poor health or attendance that leads to poor academic performance (Braconi 2001).

The Objective
The main objective of this paper is to measure the impact of housing conditions on the attitude, behaviour, emotions, feelings and psychological wellbeing of middle-income groups.

Method
The study answer the states in M sampling, from each

Results
The scale calculate t followed:

Demog
The major between R (81.03%).the massiv salary for earned RM electricity, outcome low/middl such as foo the whole all membe

The Im
The scale u Frequency questions.

The Impac
Journal of Su From an implementation point of view, the present research findings can be used to tackle the impact of housing conditions on the behaviour and psychological wellbeing of middle-income groups, and emphasizes on the need for more safety and good condition houses.In conclusion, a review of academic literature has drawn together strong evidence of the direct impact of housing on wellbeing.However, given the clear link, the volume of high quality research on this area is surprisingly limited and there is an urgent need for more comprehensive research.

in the H
f People