Unpacking Stress: The Association Between Housing Assistance and Mental Health

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Interdisciplinary Centers, Units and Projects::Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF)::Fall Research Expo
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Psychology
Economics
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Urban Economics
Family Psychology
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2025
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Morgan, Bria
Jaffee, Sara
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Abstract

This study examines whether housing assistance moderates the link between residential mobility and maternal mental health. Using data from the Philadelphia PHL Housing+ project (n = 1,196), which provided either cash or housing vouchers to low-income families, a linear regression tested the interaction between number of residential moves in the past two years and type of assistance on mothers’ psychological distress (Kessler K10 Scale). Results show that more moves are significantly associated with higher distress, but assistance type (cash, voucher, or control) does not alter this relationship. Findings suggest that financial support alone may not buffer the mental-health costs of frequent moves, underscoring the need for qualitative research on non-monetary factors influencing relocation decisions.

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2025
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I am grateful to the Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring (PURM) program, William Penn Foundation, Stoneleigh Foundation, Springpoint Partners, Mayor's Office of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Housing Department Corporation (PHDC), and Russel Sage Foundation for their contributions.
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