The researchers found that slightly over 55% of those who attempted or completed suicide had moved more than three times, and 7.4% had relocated more than 10 times! This compared to 32% of other youth who moved three or more times and 1.9% who moved on more than 10 occasions. The authors found a “dose-response” relationship between relocation and suicidality. That is, the more often they moved, the more likely they were to have attempted or completed suicide.

The authors proposed a number of possible reasons for the increased suicide risk among youth. Stress associated with adapting to a new environment, along with loss of contact with friends and interruption of participation on clubs and teams, were possibilities. Parental stress surrounding a major life change such as a move might reduce their awareness of the youth’s mood, making it less likely that they’d be able to help. The researchers admitted that their data didn’t establish a causal link between family moves and suicidality, noting that a third variable could be a precursor to both moves and suicide. Any number of factors could create a situation in which frequent moves are likely, although parental mental health was controlled statistically in this study.(...)
Read the rest of Moving frequently linked to increased suicide risk (232 words)

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Post tags: family moves, family stress, suicide
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