Abstract
BackgroundLittle research focuses on the influence of lifetime residential mobility on health at midlife. We used a national survey of participant recall of residential mobility to assess this issue and explore the mediating and moderating effects of personal and environmental context.MethodsIn March 2010, we collected data from people in Taiwan aged 40 to 60 years. Based on the household registration system, data were collected using the population proportional-to-size sampling method and a computer-assisted telephone interview. A total of 2834 participants completed the interview. Based on the 3490 registered households, the overall response rate was 81.2%.ResultsThe mean cumulative frequency of geographic relocation (CFGR) was 3.06 ± 2.78 times and ranged from 0 to 21. After carefully adjusting for the heterogeneity of demographic and socioeconomic propensity, total CFGR was significantly positively associated with negative self-rated mental (odds ratio [OR] and 95% CI for increase per time: 1.06, 1.02–1.16) and physical (OR and 95% CI for increase per time: 1.16, 1.05–1.26) health. Social network support lessened the impact of total CFGR on self-rated mental health. In addition to the primary effect, the interaction (residential environmental satisfaction × total CFGR) significantly moderated negative mental health and negative physical health.ConclusionsLifetime residential mobility history independently influenced midlife health. Social network support and satisfaction with the residential environment in past and current living places further mediated or moderated midlife health. Findings from these different perspectives offer insights for future medical care projects and epidemiologic studies.
Highlights
The results indicate that a higher cumulative frequency of geographic relocation (CFGR) during any life stage was associated with a higher rate of poor midlife health
The rate of poor midlife health was significantly positively correlated with educational level, marital status, household income, employment profile, poor social network support, and worsening satisfaction with residential environment
After carefully adjusting for the heterogeneity of demographic and socioeconomic propensity, this study revealed an independent association between mobility history and selfrated health at midlife
Summary
Residential mobility during a person’s life involves multiple interactions between this individual and the social environment and can result in a lasting impact.[1,2] As compared with other events in a person’s life, residential mobility is unique as it is not entirely negative and can be related to numerous other contextual factors, such as social network support and environmental issues.[3,4] Demographers have noted that the long- and short-term psychological and physical effects of moving are related to interactions between the above contextual factors and the socioeconomic characteristics of the individual before and after geographic relocation.[5]Several prior studies have shown that early childhood experiences of mobility are related to academic performance, risky behaviors, and personality development, which might be due to the influence of frequent relocation on factors such as the stability of family structure, constancy of environment, development of interpersonal relationships, and access to health services.[6,7,8,9,10] Many experts believe that geographic relocation is closely correlated with the accumulation of social network support within the framework of personal development.[11,12] In addition to childhood, geographic relocation can be a major life event in adolescence and adulthood.[13,14] Young and middle-aged adults frequently cite the desire to maximize their income or job satisfaction through educational. After carefully adjusting for the heterogeneity of demographic and socioeconomic propensity, total CFGR was significantly positively associated with negative self-rated mental (odds ratio [OR] and 95% CI for increase per time: 1.06, 1.02–1.16) and physical (OR and 95% CI for increase per time: 1.16, 1.05–1.26) health. Social network support lessened the impact of total CFGR on self-rated mental health. In addition to the primary effect, the interaction (residential environmental satisfaction × total CFGR) significantly moderated negative mental health and negative physical health. Social network support and satisfaction with the residential environment in past and current living places further mediated or moderated midlife health. Findings from these different perspectives offer insights for future medical care projects and epidemiologic studies
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