Multilevel Effects of Environmental and Neighborhood Factors on Sober Living House Resident 12-Month Outcomes.

Sober living houses (SLHs) are abstinence-based environments designed for individuals in recovery to live with others in recovery. Research shows that SLHs help some individuals maintain recovery and that certain SLH-related factors may be particularly protective. Here we assess how SLH housing and neighborhood characteristics are related to abstinence and psychiatric symptoms over time. Baseline, 6-month, and 12-month data were collected from 557 SLH residents. Multilevel mixed models tested associations between house and neighborhood characteristics and individual-level percent days abstinent (PDA) and the number of psychiatric symptoms (measured with the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire [PDSQ]) as outcomes. Final models adjusted for sex, age, and race/ethnicity; ratings of house characteristics; and objective measurements of neighborhood-level exposures. Both PDA and PDSQ improved significantly ( Neighborhood-level factors such as increased availability of self-help groups and fewer nearby alcohol outlets may increase abstinence among individuals living in SLHs. House-level factors related to better maintenance may also facilitate improved mental health.