MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: Does the Temporal Pattern of Moving to a Higher Quality Neighborhood across a 5-Year Period Predict Psychological Distress among Adolescents? Results from a Federal Housing Experiment

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2020

ISSN: 0002-9262

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa256

Abstract: <p>Using the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) experiment (1994-2002), this study examined how a multidimensional measure of neighborhood quality over time influenced adolescent psychological distress, using instrumental variable (IV) analysis. Neighborhood quality was operationalized with an independently-validated 19-indicator child opportunity index (COI), linked to MTO family addresses over 4-7 years. We examined if being randomized to receive a housing subsidy (versus remaining in public housing) predicted neighborhood quality across time. Using IV analysis, we tested if experimentally induced differences in COI across time predicted psychological distress (N=2829; Mean(standard deviation (SD)) = -.04(1.12)). The MTO voucher treatment improved neighborhood quality for children compared to in-place controls. A one-SD change in COI since baseline predicted 0.32 point lower psychological distress for girls (B(95%CI)= -0.32 (-0.61, -0.03)). Results were comparable but less precisely estimated when operationalizing neighborhood quality as simply average post-random assignment COI, (B(95%CI)= -0.36(-0.74, 0.02). Effect estimates based on a COI excluding poverty and on the most recent COI measure were slightly larger than other operationalizations of neighborhood quality. Improving a multidimensional measure of neighborhood quality led to reductions in low-income girls’ psychological distress, and this was estimated with high internal validity using IV methods.</p>

Url: https://academic.oup.com/aje/advance-article/doi/10.1093/aje/kwaa256/5998639

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Schmidt, Nicole M.; Glymour, M Maria; Osypuk, Theresa L

Periodical (Full): American Journal of Epidemiology

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