Cooperative Housing: A Catalyst for Health and Wellbeing? A Scoping review of English and Spanish Literature (2004–2024)

This scoping review evaluates the impact of cooperative housing on health and wellbeing by synthesizing findings from studies published in English and Spanish over a 20-year period (2004–2024). The review aims to assess how cooperative housing models contribute to physical and mental health, reduce social isolation, and foster health equity. A comprehensive search across 12 academic databases yielded 35 studies, which were categorized by study design: 48.57 % qualitative, 17.14 % mixed-method, 8.57 % quantitative, 14.29 % literature reviews, and 11.43 % with unspecified methodologies. Most studies were conducted in Spain, Canada, and the United States. Findings suggest that cooperative housing enhances mental and physical health, particularly in senior and intergenerational communities, while qualitative research provides rich insights into residents' lived experiences. Despite the positive outcomes, most studies utilized cross-sectional designs, underscoring the need for more longitudinal research to establish causality. This review identifies key gaps in the literature, particularly the underrepresentation of diverse populations and the limited integration of quantitative and qualitative methods. While cooperative housing shows potential as a tool to improve health and wellbeing, further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base and inform policy development. • Cooperative housing enhances health and well-being via social and emotional support. • Benefits are strongest in seniors and intergenerational housing communities. • Gaps include underrepresentation of diverse populations and longitudinal studies. • Cooperative housing fosters health equity and reduces social isolation. • Findings synthesize 20 years of English and Spanish research (2004–2024).