The report, Insecure Lives: The growth and impact of multiple insecurities reveals that millions of UK residents are experiencing insecurity in multiple important dimensions of their lives at the same time. For example, in 2022/23, 5.1 million UK adults experienced combined financial insecurity, housing insecurity and health insecurity (this could be due to being in a temporary job, and behind with housing payments, and long-term sick or disabled). 5.2 million experienced financial, health and work insecurity.

People experiencing multiple insecurities have two to three times the average rates of wellbeing problems including feeling under strain, difficulties sleeping due to worry, isolation, and loneliness.

Interviews reveal that multiple insecurities create material hardship and mental burdens. They create barriers to people supporting their children, taking on training, work or more or better work, and thus contributing to economic activity and growth.

CASE members Becky Tunstall, Irene Bucelli, Laura Lane and Abigail McKnight worked with colleagues Helen Lomax, Sally Pearce and Jonathan Webb and from Sheffield Hallam University. Jonathan Payne of De Montfort University, Stuart Henderson of Ulster University, Anita Mangan of Bristol University and Irena Grugulis of the University of Leeds. They explored existing literature on individual insecurities and multiple insecurities, and used the large, nationally representative Understanding Society survey to assess the scale of the issue over 2009/10-2022/23. They also talked with 36 people experiencing multiple insecurities in Sheffield, Milton Keynes and Lincolnshire to learn about the impact of multiple insecurities on people’s wellbeing and opportunities.

The research was funded by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government through the Economic and Social Research Council, but does not represent their government policy. 

The main project report published today is the first of a series of reports from the Insecure Lives project, which will include the literature on insecurities, detail on the quantitative and qualitative findings, and promising policy approaches to reducing and mitigating multiple insecurities.  

You can read The Guardian article here. 

Read the news item on the LSE website.