The Health and Wellbeing of Gypsies and Travellers in Settled Housing: A Narrative Review of the Evidence and Policy

Abstract

Gypsies and Travellers have historically been afforded low priority in research into their health and wellbeing despite evidence of negative social and health and wellbeing experiences in daily living. This article presents a narrative review of the literature around the health and wellbeing of Gypsies and Travellers in settled housing. From the evidence, two themes emerge. The first one demonstrates that the experience of settled housing is often detrimental to the health and wellbeing of Gypsies and Travellers. The second theme suggests that Gypsies and Travellers often attempt to minimise the negative impacts of the shift into settled housing to assist in enhancing health and wellbeing. The article then proceeds to suggest how health and wellbeing researchers and social policy makers can further develop the evidence base and the policy and practices responses required as a result.