Full spectrum of mental disorders linked with childhood residential mobility

Abstract

Although links between childhood residential mobility and subsequently increased risks of psychopathology have been well documented, associations across the full spectrum of psychiatric disorders are unknown. We conducted a population-based study of all 1,439,363 persons born in Denmark during 1971-1997 to investigate relationships between childhood cross-municipality residential moves from year of birth to age 14 years and the development of a range of psychiatric disorders from mid-adolescence to early middle age. We examined: (1) Any substance misuse disorders; specifically alcohol misuse, and cannabis misuse; (2) Any personality disorders; specifically antisocial, and borderline personality disorders; (3) Schizophrenia and related disorders; specifically schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder; (4) Any mood disorders; specifically bipolar disorder, and depressive disorder; (5) Any anxiety and somatoform disorders; specifically obsessive compulsive disorder; (6) Any eating disorders; specifically anorexia nervosa. Childhood residential mobility was associated with elevated risks of developing most psychiatric disorders, even after controlling for potential confounders. The associations generally rose with increasing age at moving and were stronger for multiple moves in a year compared to a single move. Links were particularly strong for antisocial personality disorder, any substance misuse disorder, and cannabis misuse in particular, for which the highest increases in risks were observed if relocation occurred during adolescence. Childhood residential change was not linked to subsequent risk of developing an eating disorder. Frequent residential mobility could be a marker for familial adversities. Mental health services and schools need to be vigilant of the psychosocial needs of children, particularly adolescents, who have recently moved homes.

Keywords: Antisocial behavior; Eating disorder; Familial adversities; Personality disorder; Residential change; Substance misuse.

Fig. 1

Frequency of residential moves (1, 2, 3 or more) in the Danish population cohort for each year from birth to age 14 years^a.

Fig. 2

IRRs associated with residential change for: (a) Any substance misuse disorders; (b) Alcohol misuse; (c) Cannabis misuse; (d) Any personality disorders; (e) Borderline personality disorder; (f) Antisocial personality disorder. All estimates adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, mental illness in a parent or sibling, parental age at time of child's birth, and urbanization of place of birth^a.

Fig. 3

IRRs associated with residential change for: (a) Broad schizophrenia; (b) Narrow schizophrenia; (c) Schizoaffective disorder; (d) Any mood disorders; (e) Bipolar disorder; (f) Depressive disorder. All estimates adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, mental illness in a parent or sibling, parental age at time of child's birth, and urbanization of place of birth^a.

Fig. 4

IRRs associated with residential change for: (a) Any anxiety and somatoform disorders; (b) Obsessive compulsive disorder; (c) Any eating disorders; (d) Anorexia nervosa. All estimates adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, mental illness in a parent or sibling, parental age at time of child's birth, and urbanization of place of birth^a.