Time: 2024-07-19
In recent years , mental health providers have been focusing on screening for adverse childhood experiences , such as abuse , neglect , violence , family dissolution , and poverty , as risk factors for later disorders . However , a recent study conducted in Denmark has revealed a surprising finding . Adults who moved frequently during childhood have a significantly higher risk of suffering from depression compared to those who stayed in the same community . Researchers from the University of Plymouth found that the risk of moving frequently in childhood outweighed the risk of living in a poor neighborhood . The study included all Danes born between 1982 and 2003 , totaling more than a million people , of which around 2.3 percent received diagnoses of depression from a psychiatric hospital.
According to the University of Plymouth study , moving house multiple times before the age of 15 can significantly increase the risk of developing depression . Researchers analyzed the residential locations of over a million individuals born in Denmark between 1981 and 2001 . The study revealed that children who moved once between ages 10 to 15 were 41 % more likely to be diagnosed with depression , while those who moved twice or more during the same age range had a 61 % increased risk . The research also highlighted the importance of location , showing that individuals who lived in income - deprived neighborhoods during childhood were around 10 % more likely to develop depression in adulthood.
The findings of the study suggest that having a settled home environment during childhood , in terms of location , may be a protective factor against future mental health issues . Professor Clive Sabel , the studys lead author , emphasized the impact of childhood moves on building social networks and the challenges of adapting to new environments . He mentioned that each time a child has to adjust to something new , it can be disruptive and potentially lead to mental health difficulties . The research involved collaboration between the University of Plymouth , Aarhus University , and the University of Manchester.
The study on the impact of childhood moving on depression risk sheds light on the importance of stable and consistent environments during formative years . Moving house multiple times before the age of 15 has been linked to a higher likelihood of depression diagnosis in adulthood . As researchers continue to explore the connections between childhood experiences and mental health outcomes , new strategies and interventions may be developed to support individuals facing challenges related to frequent relocations during childhood.
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