Childhood residential mobility and health outcomes: A meta-analysis

Müge Simsek; Rafael Costa; Helga A G de Valk

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102650

Childhood residential mobility and health outcomes: A meta-analysis

Health Place. 2021 Sep:71:102650. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102650. Epub 2021 Aug 21.

Authors

Müge Simsek¹, Rafael Costa², Helga A G de Valk¹

Affiliations

¹ Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)-KNAW/University of Groningen, Lange Houtstraat 19, 2511 CV, The Hague, the Netherlands.
² Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)-KNAW/University of Groningen, Lange Houtstraat 19, 2511 CV, The Hague, the Netherlands; Interface Demography, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: costa@nidi.nl.

PMID: 34428708
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102650

Abstract

This study assesses the association between childhood residential mobility and health-related outcomes by way of a meta-analysis of studies published between 1989 and 2020. The sample includes 844 effect sizes from 64 unique studies. The results point to a negative association (small to medium) between childhood mobility and health. This association is contingent upon the type of health outcome studied, age at outcome assessment, age at moving, and frequency of moves. The major confounders of this association are parental SES, parental marital status, ethnicity, and co-occurring childhood adversities. The implications for future research are discussed.

Keywords: Childhood; Family moves; Geographical relocation; Health; Meta-analysis; Residential mobility.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Ethnicity*
Humans
Marital Status
Population Dynamics