Effects of Savings on Depressive Symptoms Among Homeless People in Korea: Using Propensity Score Matching

Abstract

Researchers have found that the accumulation of assets through savings may serve a vital function in enhancing mental health and well-being. However, the question of how the status of savings affects the level of depressive symptoms in homeless persons remains largely unexplored. This study examines the relationship between savings and depressive symptoms in homeless individuals by utilizing the 2016 National Survey on Homeless People. We employed propensity score matching to reduce selection bias and multivariate logistic regression to probe the effects of savings on depressive symptoms. We found that after taking into account the covariates, a lower level of savings was associated with a higher level of depressive symptoms. Our findings imply that an asset-based policy orientated toward those facing homelessness could have a significant effect on reducing depressive symptoms.