Structural Probit Model Research Articles

Mental health among university employees during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of previous life trauma and current posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Previous studies indicated that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has harmed the mental health of diverse samples. Adopting a trauma lens with a sample of university faculty and staff, this study examined risk conferred by previous exposure to traumatic life events (TLE) on pandemic-related mental health harm (MHH) and stress and the mediating influence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. In Spring 2021, employees (N = 641) of a public university in the United States completed an online cross-sectional survey, including validated scales of TLE and PTSD and single-item measures of MHH and stress taken from published COVID-19 studies. A structural probit model was used to estimate: (a) direct effects of cumulative TLE on PTSD, MHH, and stress; and (b) indirect effects of cumulative TLE via PTSD adjusting for age. Gender was tested as a moderating influence. Nearly 36% of the sample reported positive PTSD screens along with high levels of MHH (22.5%) and stress (42.3%). Cumulative TLE was significantly and positively associated with MHH and stress. Both genders experienced a negative impact on mental health and stress either fully or partially through PTSD symptoms; however, the gender by trauma interaction term was not significant. As age decreased, PTSD and MHH increased. Results suggest that PTSD symptoms play a crucial role in the experience of MHH and stress during the pandemic for those who endured previous trauma. Implications for employer policies, public health messaging, and mental health services are explored. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

A successful intervention to improve medication adherence in Black patients with hypertension: Mediation analysis of 28-site TEAM trial

BackgroundWe previously reported the main effects and cost-effectiveness of a successful multifaceted Team Education and Adherence Monitoring (TEAM) intervention to improve refill adherence in Black patients with hypertension. It is important to identify the key mediators or intervention components that contributed to this intervention effect. ObjectivesThis study aimed to conduct a “mediation analysis” to determine which intervention components had the largest effect on refill adherence and assess patient satisfaction with pharmacy care. MethodsA cluster-randomized trial was conducted among 576 Black patients in 28 pharmacies (14 TEAM, 14 control). TEAM participants were invited to 6 visits with a pharmacist-technician team that monitored the patient’s blood pressure and used a 9-item Brief Medication Questionnaire, Brief Goal Check, and other novel tools to identify and reduce barriers to adherence in Black patients. Control participants received printed information only. Refill adherence was defined as >80% days covered (proportion of days covered) per refill records during months 7 to 12 (postintervention); potential mediators and patient satisfaction were assessed using a research questionnaire administered at month 6. A structural probit model examined 4 potential mediators that might explain intervention success. ResultsOf 4 potential mediators, the most important factors in explaining the improvement in refill adherence (postintervention) were greater pharmacist collaboration with patient in barrier reduction (68.5% of total indirect effect) and patient use of a pillbox (27.2% of total indirect effect). Pharmacist contact with physician and suggestion of a change in regimen did not have significant effects on adherence. TEAM participants were more likely than control participants to rate their pharmacist care as “very satisfactory” (80.2% vs. 44.2%, P < 0.001) and technician care as “very satisfactory” (81.2% vs. 47.4%, P < 0.001). ConclusionRefill adherence and satisfaction can be improved in Black patients with hypertension by implementing a collaborative TEAM model with novel tools that enable community pharmacists and technicians to help identify and reduce the core barriers to adherence. Our results can be used to individualize and improve patient care and adherence outcomes in this vulnerable population.

The Determinants of Individual Union Membership in Australia: A Structural Approach Using Panel Data

This paper uses The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey to estimate a structural probit model of the determinants of individual union membership. The paper finds that union membership responds positively to the wage differential between union and non‐union workers. Consistent with other Australian and overseas research, we find that job rather than individual characteristics are the most important determinants of the probability of union membership. We contrast our research with previous Australian research from the 1980s when unionism was compulsory for many workers. We find significant similarity between the major drivers of individual union membership.

An Empirical Model of Tax Convexity and Self-Employment

Do progressive marginal income tax rates discourage self-employment? We assume risk neutrality to construct an implicit surtax on stochastic income relative to steady income, arising from a convex tax schedule. It is computed as part of a structural probit model with earnings equations and a tax simulator. The tax convexity variable and the net-of-tax income difference between self- and paid employment have the predicted signs and high levels of statistical significance for the probability of self-employment. A simulated flat tax reform suggests the tax effects are small.

The nature of self-employment: how does gender matter?

This paper analyses female and male entrepreneurship and the differences between them in Finland. The female self-employment rate is clearly lower than that of male self-employment in Finland. The paper shows that differing behaviour accounts for differing rates of self-employment between females and males. The predicted earnings differential between self-employment and paid employment has a divergent effect on the probabilities of self-employment. For males, it is positive (as expected). For females, it has no effect, which accentuates the other motives they have for self-employment. Both spouse and family are found to have bigger effects on female self-employment than on male self-employment. Yet, personal characteristics are behind entrepreneurship for both sexes. Regional characteristics are more important for male than female self-employment. The analysis is based on a structural probit model and a large register-based data set representing a 7% random sample of all Finns in 2001.

Predicted earnings and the propensity for self‐employment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the predicted earnings differential between self‐employment and wage‐employment on self‐employment propensities in Sweden using a large data set from the year 2003.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis in the paper is based on the presumption that the individual chooses to work in either the self‐employed or the wage‐employed sector. The separate earnings functions for the self‐employed and the wage‐employed are estimated in order to predict an individual's earnings in each sector. In order to overcome selectivity problems a Heckman approach is used at this stage. Finally, a structural probit model, where the difference in predicted earnings from the two sectors is included as an independent variable, is estimated.FindingsThe main result is that the predicted differential between self‐employment and wage‐employment earnings plays an important role for the self‐employment decision and that an increase in this earnings differential will lead to a higher self‐employment rate and to an increase in total employment in Sweden.Originality/valueThe policy relevance of this question is evident since previous research has shown that self‐employed individuals do not only create jobs for themselves but also for others. Thus, an increase in the earnings from self‐employment relative to the earnings from wage‐employment will increase the self‐employment rate as well as total employment.

Skew binary regression with measurement errors

In this paper, we extend the structural probit measurement error model by considering that the unobserved covariate follows a skew-normal distribution. The new model is termed the structural skew-normal probit model. As in the normal case, the likelihood function is obtained analytically which can be maximized by using existing statistical software. A Bayesian approach using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques to generate from the posterior distributions is also developed. A simulation study demonstrates the usefulness of the approach in avoiding attenuation which is the case with the naive procedure and it seems to be more efficient than using the structural probit model when the distribution of the covariate (predictor) is skew.

Legal Status at Entry, Economic Performance, and Self-Employment Proclivity: A Bi-National Study of Immigrants

There are concerns about the attachment of immigrants to the labor force, and the potential policy responses. This paper uses a bi-national survey on immigrant performance to investigate the sorting of individuals into full-time paid-employment and entrepreneurship and their economic success. Particular attention is paid to the role of legal status at entry in the host country (worker, refugee, and family reunification), ethnic networks, enclaves and other differences among ethnicities for their integration in the labor market. Since the focus is on the understanding of the self-employment decision, a two-stage structural probit model is employed that determines the willingness to work full-time (against part-time employment and not working), and the choice between full-time paid work and self-employment. The choices are determined by the reservation wage for full-time work, and the perceived earnings from working in paid-employment and as entrepreneur, among other factors. Accounting for sample selectivity, the paper provides regressions explaining reservation wages, and actual earnings for paid-employment and self-employment, which provide the basis for such an analysis. The structural probit models suggest that the expected earnings differentials from working and reservation wages and for self-employment and paid-employment earnings matter much, although only among a number of other determinants. For Germany, legal status at entry is important; former refugees and those migrants who arrive through family reunification are less likely to work full-time; refugees are also less self-employed. Those who came through the employment channel are more likely to be in full-time paid work. In Denmark, however, the status at entry variables do not play any significant role. This suggests that the Danish immigrant selection system is ineffective.

Fiscal Pressure, Tax Competition and the Adoption of Tax Increment Financing

Tax increment financing (TIF) has been widely adopted as an economic development tool by municipalities. This study estimates a structural probit model of municipal TIF adoption decisions using data drawn from cities in Indiana. It provides empirical evidence that factors such as fiscal pressures, tax competition, economic distress, industrial composition, availability of alternative programmes and the expected gains in property values from the use of TIF exert significant influence in a city's decision to adopt a TIF programme. After using an accurate measure of prior growth, this analysis finds no empirical evidence to support the contention that growing cities are more likely to adopt TIF.

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Selection of a Milk Handler

AbstractA structural probit model is estimated to determine the change in the probability of selecting a milk handler. Cooperatives are thought to have lower prices and higher deductions than independent milk handlers and these factors reduce the probability that a farmer will select a cooperative by 0.39 and 0.32. Cooperatives are thought to have better services and an assured market and payment than independent milk handlers and these factors increase the probability that a farmer will select a cooperative by 0.20 and 0.26. This indicates that many cooperative members value monetary characteristics over non-monetary characteristics.

The Effect of Child Care Costs on Married Women's Labor Force Participation

The effect of child-care costs on the probability that married women with children will participate in the labor market is examined. Child-care costs are estimated.using a generalized Tobit specification corrected for selection. Estimates of a structural probit model of labor-force participation provide evidence to support the prediction that increased child-care costs lower the probability of participation. It is also shown that the lower rate of labor-force participation among mothers of preschoolers is entirely the result of the higher child-care costs faced by these women and endogeneity of the number of young children in the participation equation. Copyright 1992 by MIT Press.

Multiple modeling of propensity to adopt residential energy conservation retrofits

This paper concerns the propensity of American homeowners to adopt three residential energy conserving practices (adding insulation, adding storm doors or windows, adding caulking or weatherstripping). We present an analysis of the National Interim Energy Consumption Survey of 1978–1979 using two distinct statistical models: the multivariate log-linear/logistic model, and the multivariate structural probit model with latent variables. The two models are shown to be complementary.