Moving house often poses risks

Children who frequently move house are more likely to suffer poor health, research suggests.

Moving several times before the age of 18 can have an impact on overall health, cause psychological distress and increase the likelihood that a child may use illegal drugs.

The study included data for 850 people, followed-up for a period of 20 years.

By the age of 18, 59 per cent had moved house once or twice while 21 per cent had moved at least three times.

Children of single parents or those with step-parents were significantly more likely to move home, as were those with two or three siblings.

Those with four or more brothers and sisters were more likely to stay put.

Experts found that people who moved at least once had an increased risk of poorer overall health, and some of this could be down to changing schools.

Those who had moved three times or more were twice as likely to have used illegal drugs and nearly three times as likely to have had suicidal thoughts as those who stayed in the same house.

However, the risk of some these problems had subsided by the age of 36 and there was no effect on physical measures such as weight, lung function and blood pressure.

Lead author Denise Brown, from the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow, said: “For many people, moving house is a positive experience as it may lead to improved family circumstances.

“But for some family members moving can be stressful and may lead to poor health outcomes and behaviours in adulthood.

“The negative effect on health in adulthood appears to be somewhat accounted for by a high number of school moves.

“This suggests that support should be given to children during a family relocation to ensure that important social ties and relationships with healthcare professionals are not broken.”

The research was drawn from people taking part in a West of Scotland study.

But the experts said there was no reason to believe the effect on long-term health would not be replicated across the UK.