We should address residential relocation to improve patient care

Abstract

Moving, or residential relocation, occurs frequently in childhood and adolescence as well as in adulthood, yet little scientific consensus exists on its impact upon health outcomes. This paper summarises the available literature on this broad topic and explores the currently known factors of importance surrounding residential relocation. There is already evidence to support an increased risk of suicidal ideation, psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders, functional impairments and future general medical health impairments in children, adolescents and adults with histories of residential relocation. Intrapersonal factors, such as personality type and the availability of coping skills, as well as interpersonal factors, such as family composition and system strengths, attenuate risk and are integral to additionally assess. While there is support for the contribution of residential relocation in the onset of youth psychopathology that warrant consideration of residential relocation in the standard assessment of a patient, further studies are needed to better explore this factor in select populations.