Crowding

Consequences of Crowding

Crowding can result in increased rates of diseases, such as meningitis, tuberculosis, and respiratory conditions, and slow growth rates of children. Crowding is also associated with lower educational attainment of offspring in the household. For example, a study conducted in New York City estimated that children living in crowded conditions, that is, more than one person per room, reduced young males’ and young females’ probability of completing high school by 11 percentage points and 6 percentage points, respectively.

Many studies have been conducted to assess the impact of crowding on psychosocial processes, such as personal control, goal attainment, supportive relationships, and recovery from stress. Residential crowding has been found to increase psychological distress but not produce serious mental illness, although psychological distress can lead to individuals’ exhibiting withdrawal or aggressive behaviors. Individuals may withdraw from social interactions to have a sense of control because crowding threatens the regulation of their interactions. Aggressive behavior has also been linked to an individual's level of frustration in crowded conditions. Most research on the effects of crowding has been in Western developed countries, but the effects of overcrowding are evident in other countries as well. In a study conducted in Pune, India, the male heads of household living in homes that were classified as crowded had lower ratings of social support and higher levels of psychological distress than those in less crowded homes. They also had a higher preference for being left alone.

Results of studies on the psychological impact of crowding have been somewhat inconsistent, however, because of methodologies employed or variables that were not measured. For example, studies have been conducted in different environments (in a laboratory or a residential setting), controlled for the number of people or conversely for the size of the space but not both, ages of the individuals limited, or prior evidence of psychological problems not assessed. Other confounding variables that may not be measured include the effect of neighborhood density, availability of outdoor space, physical condition of the dwelling, socioeconomic status of the individuals, and relationships and roles with others in the household. Even the layout of the rooms in a dwelling can influence one's psychological distress or perception of crowding. For example, individuals living in a crowded dwelling were less likely to withdraw or be distressed if they had to pass through a number of spaces in their dwelling compared to those who also lived in a crowded dwelling but that did not have to pass through as many spaces. Crowding may also be perceived based on the shape of the rooms (square versus rectangular) and the overall plan of the dwelling. An open style plan, without built structures between room areas, may be perceived as more crowded.

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