Stigma Next Door: Discrimination Against Public Housing Residents and Their Neighborhood Perceptions and Attitudes

Abstract

This study examines the association between perceived housing-based discrimination and residents’ trust, social connection, and community attitudes in Seoul, South Korea. Using four waves (2016–2021) of the Seoul Public Rental Housing Panel Survey (N = 6,317), we applied individual fixed effects models to assess the within-person effects of perceived discrimination on eight neighborhood-related outcomes. Models adjusted for time-varying covariates and used Bonferroni correction and E-values to assess robustness. Discrimination was associated with lower satisfaction with public housing and reduced trust in others, as well as more negative views on social mix and greater NIMBY attitudes. No significant associations were found with social connectedness with neighbors. Gender-stratified analyses revealed stronger effects among women, particularly in trust and attitudes toward social mix in neighborhood. These findings highlight the need for anti-stigma interventions and inclusive housing policies that foster social cohesion in public housing environments.