Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Association of Residential Mobility with Child Health: An Analysis of the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To describe the association of residential mobility with child health. We conducted descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses of data from 63,131 children, 6–17 years, from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. Logistic regression was used to explore the association of residential mobility with child health and measures of well-being. Analyses were carried out using SAS-callable SUDAAN to appropriately weight estimates and adjust for the complex sampling design. After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, presence of a special health care need, family structure, parental education, poverty level, and health insurance status, children who moved ≥3 times were more likely to have poorer reported overall physical (AOR 1.21 [95 %CI: 1.01–1.46]) and oral health status (AOR 1.31 [95 % CI: 1.15–1.49]), and ≥1 moderate/severe chronic conditions (AOR 1.40 [95 % CI: 1.19–1.65]) than children who had no lifetime moves. When compared to children who had never moved, children who moved ≥3 times were more likely to be uninsured/have periods of no coverage (AOR 1.35; 95 % CI: 0.98–1.87) and lack a medical home (AOR 1.16, 95 % CI: 1.04–1.31). None of the outcomes were statistically significant for children who moved fewer than 3 times. Clinicians need to be aware that children who move frequently may lack stable medical homes and consistent coverage increasing their risk of poor health outcomes and aggravation of mild or underlying chronic conditions. Public health systems could provide the necessary link between parents and clinicians to ensure that continuous, coordinated care is established for children who move frequently.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

MCHB:

Maternal and Health Child Bureau

NSCH:

2007 National Survey of Children’s Health

References

  1. United States Census Bureau Current Population Survey. (2009). Table 9. General mobility of family householders, by type of household, race and Hispanic origin of householder, and presence and age of own children under 18: 2008–2009. [cited 2011 January 26]; Available from: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/migrate/cps2009.html.

  2. United States Census Bureau Current Population Survey. (2009). Table 1. General mobility, by race and Hispanic origin, region, sex, age, relationship to householder, educational attainment, marital status, nativity, tenure, and poverty status: 2008 to 2009. [cited 2011 May 2]; Available from: http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/migrate/cps2009.html.

  3. Wood, D., et al. (1993). Impact of family relocation on children’s growth, development, school function, and behavior. JAMA, 270, 1334–1338.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Astone, N. M., & Mclanahan, S. S. (1994). Family structure, residential mobility, and school dropout: A research note. Demography, 31, 575–584.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Simpson, G. A., & Fowler, M. G. (1994). Geographic mobility and children’s emotional/behavioral adjustment and school functioning. Pediatrics, 93, 303.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Stack, S. (1994). The effect of geographic mobility on premarital sex. Journal of Marriage and Family, 56, 204–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dewit, D. J. (1998). Frequent childhood geographic relocation: Its impact on drug use initiation and the development of alcohol and other drug-related problems among adolescents and young adults. Addictive Behaviors, 23, 623–634.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Crowder, K., & Teachman, J. (2004). Do residential conditions explain the relationship between living arrangements and adolescent behavior? Journal of Marriage and Family, 66, 721–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Dong, M., et al. (2005). Childhood residential mobility and multiple health risks during adolescence and adulthood: The hidden role of adverse childhood experiences. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 2005(159), 1104–1110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Stoneman, Z., et al. (1999). Effects of residential instability on Head Start children and their relationships with older siblings: Influences of child emotionality and conflict between family caregivers. Child Development, 70, 1246–1262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Maciejewski, P. K., et al. (2001). Sex differences in event-related risk for major depression. Psychological Medicine, 31, 593–604.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bures, R. M. (2003). Childhood residential stability and health at midlife. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1144–1148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Oishi, S., et al. (2007). Residential mobility, self-concept, and positive affect in social interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 131–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Qin, P., et al. (2009). Frequent change of residence and risk of attempted and completed suicide among children and adolescents. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66, 628–632.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Tunstall, H., et al. (2010). Residential mobility in the UK during pregnancy and infancy: Are pregnant women, new mothers and infants `unhealthy migrants’? Social Science and Medicine, 71, 786–798.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Oishi, S., & Schimmack, U. (2010). Residential mobility, well-being, and mortality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 980–994.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Jelleyman, T., & Spencer, N. (2008). Residential mobility in childhood and health outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62, 584–592.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Knudson-Cooper, M. S., & Leutchtag, A. K. (1982). Stress of a family mover as a precipitating factor in children’s burn accidents. Journal of Human Stress, 8, 32–38.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Juon, H.-S., et al. (2003). Childhood adversity and later mortality in an urban African American cohort. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 2044–2046.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fowler, M. G., Simpson, G. A., & Schoendorf, K. C. (1993). Families on the move and children’s health care. Pediatrics, 91, 934–940.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Mustard, C. A., et al. (1996). Continuity of pediatric ambulatory care in a universally insured population. Pediatrics, 98, 1028–1034.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Duchon, L. M., et al. (1999). The relationship of residential instability to medical care utilization among poor mothers in New York City. Medical Care, 37, 1282–1293.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Medical home initiatives for children with Special Needs Project Advisory Committee. (2002). The Medical Home. Pediatrics, 110, 184–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. The Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. (2009). Measuring medical home for children and youth: Methods and findings from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs and the National Survey of Children’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

  25. Blumberg, S., et al. (2009). Design and operation of the National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics 1, 9, 26. [cited 2011 May 2]; Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/slaits/nsch.htm

  26. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. (2009). The National Survey of Children’s Health 2007. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  27. Kleinbaum, D. G., & Klein, M. (2005). Logistic regression: A self-study learning text, 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer.

  28. March, E., et al. (2011). Behind closed doors: The hidden impacts of being behind on rent. Children’s Health Watch, January, 1-6.

  29. Sell, K., et al. (2010). The effect of recession on child well-being: A synthesis of the evidence by PolicyLab. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

  30. Rouse, C. E. (2010). The state of the American Child: The impact of federal policies on children. Subcommittee on Children and Families Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions United States Senate. Washington, DC: The Council of Economic Advisors.

  31. Guttmacher Institute. (2010). Women of reproductive age hit hard by recession, new census data show.

  32. Holt, R., et al. (2000). Dental damage, sequelae, and prevention. BMJ, 320, 1717–1719.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Watt, R., & Sheiham, A. (1999). Health policy: Inequalities in oral health: A review of the evidence and recommendations for action. British Dental Journal, 187, 6–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Logan, J. G., & Barksdale, D. J. (2008). Allostasis and allostatic load: Expanding the discourse on stress and cardiovascular disease. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17, 201–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Stokols, D., & Shumaker, S. A. (1982). The psychological context of residential mobility and well-being. Journal of Social Issues, 38, 149–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge/thank the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program, Applied Sciences Branch, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, for scientific guidance/analytic support/manuscript preparation on this analysis and manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have indicated they have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wyoming Department of Health, Cheyenne, WY, USA

    Ashley Busacker

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Section on Child Health Policy and CityMatCH, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 982170 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-2170, USA

    Laurin Kasehagen

  3. MCH Epidemiology Program, ASB, DRH, NCCDPHP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-22, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Ashley Busacker & Laurin Kasehagen

Authors
  1. Ashley Busacker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laurin Kasehagen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurin Kasehagen.

Additional information

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Busacker, A., Kasehagen, L. Association of Residential Mobility with Child Health: An Analysis of the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. Matern Child Health J 16 (Suppl 1), 78–87 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-0997-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-0997-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation