Childhood displacements can be incredibly challenging, leaving lasting effects. A new study reveals that frequent relocations during childhood significantly impact mental health, increasing the risk of developing depression in adulthood.
The study uncovered a striking link between frequent childhood relocations and mental health: individuals who often move before age 15 are over 40% more likely to be diagnosed with depression in adulthood.
The findings of the study published in the journal Jama Psychiatry suggest that a stable childhood home environment, with a settled residential situation, could serve as a protective factor against potential mental health challenges later in life.
"We know there are a number of factors which lead to a person being diagnosed with a mental illness. However, this is the first evidence to suggest that moving to a new neighborhood during childhood is among them, and we believe the numbers we are seeing could be the tip of the iceberg," Professor Clive Sabel, the lead author of the study, said in a news release.
"During those formative years, children are building their social networks through school, sports groups or other activities. Each time they have to adapt to something new it can be disruptive, so we potentially need to find new ways to help people overcome those challenges," Professor Sabel added.
The study analyzed the residential locations of nearly 1.1 million people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 who remained in the country for their first 15 years. Tracking them into adulthood, it found that over 35,000 had been diagnosed with depression.
During a detailed analysis, the researchers confirmed the existing link between growing up in economically deprived neighborhoods and elevated risk of depression, establishing a 10% higher likelihood.
However, for the first time, the study found out that irrespective of economic status, multiple moves during childhood affect the risk of depression.
"Moving during childhood, independent of neighborhood deprivation status, was associated with significantly higher rates of depression in adulthood compared with not moving," the researchers wrote.
Children who moved once between ages 10 and 15 were 41% more likely to develop depression compared to those who did not move. Moving twice or more during this period increased the risk to approximately 61%, indicating that the effect of relocation was more pronounced than the impact of growing up in a deprived neighborhood.
Based on their study findings, the researchers advise that children who experience frequent relocations during childhood receive extra support to mitigate the risk of mental illness in the future.
