A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers has suggested that a rat problem could lead to depression. As per the study, the people living in Baltimore’s low-income neighborhoods, who face rodent issues, are notably more likely to suffer from sadness or anxiety.

Study leader Danielle German, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at the Bloomberg School, said that nobody likes the company of rats. German added, “This study provides strong evidence that rats are an under-appreciated stressor that affects how people feel about lives in low-income neighborhoods. The good news is it’s modifiable. If we can do something to reduce number of rats in neighborhoods, we can improve people’s well-being.”

During the study, 50% participants said that they witnessed rats every week on their block and roughly 35% saw rats every day on their block. There were 13% participants who saw rats within their home, with 5% seeing them every day inside their homes. Over 50% of the participants said that seeing rats was an indication of a bad neighborhood.

Residents in such communities often face other issues, including vacant house, sale of drugs, or safety risks. The study findings have been published in the March issue of the Journal of Community Psychology.

German mentioned that when the study team talked about the health issues faced by these residents, they thought people would discuss drugs, HIV and availability of healthier foods. But, the residents spoke of rats and trash.

She and Carl A. Latkin, PhD, a professor at the Bloomberg School, studied the data they collected from 448 Baltimore residents in poorer neighborhoods in the time span between March 2010 and December 2011. The data collection and analysis belonged to a study initiated with a motive to help reduce risks of drug and sex by tackling depression.

The study had 83% African-American participants, and 54% males who have very low incomes.