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Variation in State-Level Eviction Moratorium Protections and Mental Health Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Leifheit, Kathryn M; Pollack, Craig E; Raifman, Julia; Schwartz, Gabriel L; Koehler, Robert D; Rodriguez Bronico, Jackie V; Benfer, Emily A; Zimmerman, Frederick J; Linton, Sabriya L.
  • Leifheit KM; Department of Health Policy and Management, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles.
  • Pollack CE; Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Raifman J; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Schwartz GL; Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Koehler RD; Department of Health Law, Policy, and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Rodriguez Bronico JV; Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco.
  • Benfer EA; Columbia Law School, New York, New York.
  • Zimmerman FJ; Community Health Improvement Department, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
  • Linton SL; Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
JAMA Netw Open ; 4(12): e2139585, 2021 12 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1589284
ABSTRACT
Importance Although evictions have been associated with adverse mental health outcomes, it remains unclear which stages of the eviction process are associated with mental distress among renters. Variation in COVID-19 pandemic eviction protections across US states enables identification of intervention targets within the eviction process to improve renters' mental health.

Objective:

To measure the association between the strength of eviction protections (ie, stages blocked by eviction moratoriums) and mental distress among renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, Setting, and

Participants:

This cohort study used individual-level, nationally representative data from the Understanding Coronavirus in America Survey to measure associations between state eviction moratorium protections and mental distress. The sample of 2317 respondents included renters with annual household incomes less than $75 000 who reported a state of residence and completed surveys between March 10 and September 3, 2020, prior to the federal eviction moratorium order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exposures Time-varying strength of state moratorium protections as a categorical variable none, weak (blocking court hearings, judgments, or enforcement without blocking notice or filing), or strong (blocking all stages of the eviction process beginning with notice and filing). Main Outcomes and

Measures:

Moderate to severe mental distress was measured using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Linear regression models were adjusted for time-varying state COVID-19 incidence and mortality, public health restrictions, and unemployment rates. Models included individual and time fixed effects as well as clustered standard errors.

Results:

The sample consisted of 2317 individuals (20 853 total observations) composed largely (1788 [78%] weighted) of middle-aged adults (25-64 years of age) and women (1538 [60%]); 640 respondents (23%) self-reported as Hispanic or Latinx, 314 respondents (20%) as non-Hispanic Black, and 1071 respondents (48%) as non-Hispanic White race and ethnicity. Relative to no state-level eviction moratorium protections, strong protections were associated with a 12.6% relative reduction (risk ratio, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.99) in the probability of mental distress, whereas weak protections were not associated with a statistically significant reduction (risk ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.86-1.06). Conclusions and Relevance This analysis of the Understanding Coronavirus in America Survey data found that strong eviction moratoriums were associated with protection against mental distress, suggesting that distress begins early in the eviction process with notice and filing. This finding is consistent with the idea that to reduce mental distress among renters, policy makers should focus on primary prevention of evictions.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Public Policy / State Government / Pandemics / Psychological Distress / COVID-19 / Housing Instability Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: JAMA Netw Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Public Policy / State Government / Pandemics / Psychological Distress / COVID-19 / Housing Instability Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: JAMA Netw Open Year: 2021 Document Type: Article