People who experience a significant number of moves before the age of 15 are more than 40% more likely to be diagnosed with depression later in life, according to a new study.
The research analyzed the residential locations of nearly 1.1 million people born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 who remained in the country for the first 15 years of their lives. It then tracked these individuals into adulthood, finding that at least 35,000 of those still living in Denmark had received a medical diagnosis of depression.
The detailed analysis supported existing evidence showing that individuals living in disadvantaged neighborhoods during childhood are about 10% more likely to develop depression in adulthood. However, for the first time, it demonstrated that childhood experiences of moving—whether between or within disadvantaged or non-disadvantaged neighborhoods—are also associated with significantly higher rates of depression in adulthood. Specifically, children who move once between the ages of 10 and 15 have a 41% greater likelihood of being diagnosed with depression compared to those who do not move. If a child moves two or more times during this period, the risk increases to approximately 61%. This effect is stronger than growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood.
This led the researchers to suggest that a stable family environment—at least in terms of location—during childhood could serve as a protective factor against future mental health issues. The study was conducted by researchers from Aarhus University (Denmark), the University of Plymouth (UK), and the University of Manchester (UK).
Professor Clive Sabel, the lead researcher and Professor of Big Data and Spatial Science at the University of Plymouth, stated: “We know that various factors contribute to a diagnosis of mental illness. However, these are the first data to show that moving to a new neighborhood during childhood is among those factors, and we believe that the numbers we see could be the tip of the iceberg. During these formative years, children build their social networks through school, sports teams, or other activities. Every time they have to adjust to something new, it can be disorienting, so we may need to find new ways to help people overcome these challenges.”
It is estimated that up to 13% of the global population lives with some form of mental health issue, with the global economic burden projected to reach $6 trillion by 2030. The causes of these conditions are complex and multifaceted, involving various biological, socioeconomic, and psychological factors, but there is growing evidence that the physical, built, and social environment of individuals is related to mental health.
Existing studies worldwide have found that children who move frequently from birth to mid-adolescence are more likely to experience adverse outcomes, such as suicide attempts, violent crime, mental illness, and substance abuse. While the study focused on a significant portion of the Danish population, the researchers expect to find similar results in many parts of the world.
Professor Sabel added: “This study highlights the importance of global policies that allow and support stable childhoods while considering regional and cultural identities. Based on our findings, we also believe that specific groups of young people may be at increased risk. Young people in foster care often face multiple moves and may face additional pressures. Then there are military children, who move frequently depending on where their parents are stationed. This study suggests that these and other such children may need additional support to prevent the development of mental illnesses in later life.”
