Children moving house ‘more likely to suffer ill health as adults’

Children are more likely to suffer poor health in adulthood if they move house regularly, according to the Medical Research Council.

A study from the organisation published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health examined links between moving home and psychological distress, physical health and behaviours such as smoking, illegal drug use and heavy drinking.

By the age of 18, people who have moved at least once were found to be at increased risk of suffering a reduction in their overall health, while those who had moved three times or more were twice as likely to have taken illegal drugs as youngsters who stayed in the same house.

However, some of the negative outcomes were shown to fall by the age of 36.

No association was found between moving address and physical health measures such as weight and blood pressure.

Lead author Dr Denise Brown said: "The negative effect on health in adulthood appears to be somewhat accounted for by a high number of school moves."