MY HOME IS MY CASTLE - PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SICK BUILDINGS

Sick buildings cause severe problems for their residents and for society at large. In Sweden as much as 30% of the buildings constructed after the energy crisis are considered to cause reactions among sensitive residents. The paper presents the hypothesis that the "cost" of living in "sick" buildings is much higher than accepted if you count the psychological effects. This is even more pronounced if the "sick" building is your home. "Home" means refuge and security, a place to which we turn to replenish our energies. What does it mean to us if we feel threats against our health in the very place where we need to feel comfortable and at ease? Research intended to improve the situation must, therefore, take these psychological costs into consideration. A composite research paradigm is suggested, combining psychosomatic and sociocultural approaches as the basis for action research.