It's seems obvious that anyone who is facing a foreclosure situation would also be facing a large amounts of stress. I just read in my Real Estate magazine, the official magazine of the California association, that there may be a link between forclosures and an increase in medical visits. The largest impact seems to be in states that have been hit especially hard by the foreclosure crisis, such as Arizona, California, Florida, and New Jersey. Research by Janet Currie of Princeton University and Erdal Tekin of Georgia State University said, "We find that an increase in the number of foreclosures is associated with increases in medical visits for mental health (anxiety and suicide attempts), for preventable conditions (such as hypertension), and for a broad array of physical complaints that are plausibly stress-related".
They found an increase of 100 foreclosures corresponded to to a 7.2 percent rise in emergency room visits and hospitalizations for htypertension; an 8.1 percent increase for diabetes; 12 percent more visits related to anxiety; and 39 percent more visits for suicide attempts, all within the 20-49 age group.
The researchers did go on to note that foreclosures aren't necessarily the direct cause of health problems, pointing out that stress could be linked to financial troubles preceding the loss of the home.
Thank you,
Alan Adamo NAR, CAR, OCAR
Westline Real Estate - REALTOR®
westlinerealestate.com
714-726-5429
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