Illegal Eviction and Risk of Severe Anxiety Disorder Symptoms: Qualitative and Quantitative Data from the Social Epidemiology to Combat Unjust Residential Evictions (SECURE) Study

Residential evictions and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are worsening public health crises, with documented racial inequities, though few studies have examined their association. Using qualitative and quantitative data from the (ANONYMIZED FOR REVIEW); 2021-2024; n=1428) we used Poisson regression with robust error variance to estimate risk of severe GAD (score 15+) associated with 5 measures of eviction, by type, recency, and life-stage. To further contextualize the quantitative data, we used textual analysis of open-ended questions related to participant experience of illegal eviction. Sixteen percent of the cohort had severe GAD in the past 2 weeks. In adjusted models, women who reported illegal eviction in past 2 years (n=95) had 46% higher risk of severe GAD than those who did not (95% confidence interval: 1.03, 2.07). No strong associations were observed between the other 4 eviction measures and risk of severe GAD. The qualitative data (from 81% of those who reported illegal eviction), elucidated potential mechanisms, including anticipatory worry, vigilance, inability to plan, and sense of ongoing threat. Addressing the dual crises of evictions and GAD among reproductive age Black women will help to achieve maternal and child health equity goals.