Moving house under 15 years of age linked with depression in later life

People who move even once before 15 years of age are more likely to become depressed in later life, Danish and UK researchers have found, with people who had to move more often over 40 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression in later life.

With the volatile housing climate in Australia, which forces many families to move from their rental properties within a few short years, the research will be of note not only to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, but also to those who work with children and families in broader contexts. 

Published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, the research analysed all residential locations of almost 1.1 million people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 and who stayed in the country during the first 15 years of their lives.

It then tracked those same individuals into adulthood, and found at least 35,000 of those still living within Denmark had subsequently received a medical diagnosis of depression.

As part of a detailed analysis, the study supported existing evidence by showing that individuals who live in income deprived neighbourhoods during childhood are more likely – by a factor of around 10 per cent – to develop depression in adulthood.

However, it for the first time showed that experiences of moving during childhood – whether between or within deprived or non-deprived neighbourhoods – is also associated with significantly higher rates of depression in adulthood.

Specifically, children who move once between ages 10 to 15 years are 41 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who don’t move. And if a child moves twice or more between the ages of 10 and 15, the risk rises to around 61 per cent. This is a stronger effect than growing up in a deprived neighbourhood.

The findings suggest that a settled and stable home environment, in terms of location, is the best possible outcome for children, and one way of protecting against future mental health issues.

The study was carried out by researchers from Aarhus University (Denmark), the University of Plymouth (UK) and the University of Manchester (UK).

Lead author Professor Clive Sabel said that while it is well accepted that there are a number of factors which lead to a person being diagnosed with a mental illness this is the first evidence to suggest that moving to a new neighbourhood during childhood is among them, “and we believe the numbers we are seeing could be the tip of the iceberg.” 

“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,” he explained.

“This study emphasises the importance of global policies which enable and support settled childhoods, but ones that take into account regional and cultural identities. However, based on our findings, we also believe particular groups of young people may be at heightened risk. Young people in care often face multiple moves and are potentially being placed under additional pressures. Then there are military children, who move regularly depending on where their parents are stationed. This study would suggest they, and other such children, may need additional assistance to prevent the development of mental illness in later life.”

Access the full study here.