The Relation between Residential Mobility and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Adolescence: The Role of Subjective Moving Experience, Gender, and Friendship Quality

Juul H.D. Henkens*, Gonneke W.J.M. Stevens, Helga A.G. de Valk

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Adolescent residential mobility can be a stressful life event, potentially aggravating internalizing or externalizing problems. However, the longitudinal effects of residential mobility are understudied and may be context-dependent. This study investigates the longitudinal associations between adolescent residential mobility and internalizing and externalizing problems. Additionally, this study examines for whom residential moves are most detrimental by including subjective moving experience, gender, and friendship quality before the move as moderators. Longitudinal data from 2,029 adolescents (51% female) from the TRacking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS) were used (Mage [SD] at T1 = 11.1 [0.55], T2 = 13.6 [0.52], and T3 = 16.3 [0.70]). Results from stepwise multi-level random-effect models showed that adolescents who experienced an unpleasant move remained stable in internalizing problems, while others decreased over time. Adolescents who moved increased stronger in externalizing problems than adolescents who did not move, independent of whether they experienced the move as unpleasant. Gender and friendship quality before the move did not moderate the relation between residential mobility and internalizing or externalizing problem development. These results emphasize that residential moves in adolescence, especially when experienced as unpleasant, can have long-lasting negative effects on adolescent development.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2234-2250
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Youth and Adolescence
Volume53
Issue number10
Early online date24 May 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.

Funding

This work was part of the MyMove project funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 819298; PI: Helga A.G. de Valk). This research is also part of the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS). Organizations participating in TRAILS include various departments of the University Medical Center and University of Groningen, Utrecht University, the Radboud University Medical Center, and the Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, all in the Netherlands. TRAILS has been funded by grants from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program grant GB-MW 940-38-011; ZonMW Brainpower grant 100-001-004; ZonMw Risk Behavior and Dependence grants 60-60600-97-118; ZonMw Culture and Health grant 261-98-710; Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants GB-MaGW 480-01-006 and GB-MaGW 480-07-001; Social Sciences Council project grants GB-MaGW 452-04-314 and GB-MaGW 452-06-004; ZonMW Longitudinal Cohort Research on Early Detection and Treatment in Mental Health Care grant 636340002; NWO large-sized investment grant 175.010.2003.005; NWO Longitudinal Survey and Panel Funding 481-08-013 and 481-11-001; NWO Vici 016.130.002, 453-16-007/2735 and Vi.C.191.021; NWO Gravitation 024.001.003), the Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC), the European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project FP-006), the European Research Council (ERC-2017-STG-757364 en ERC-CoG-2015-681466), Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure BBMRI-NL (CP 32), the Gratama foundation, the Jan Dekker foundation, the participating universities, and Accare Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (https://www.trails.nl). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank the participants of the TRAILS Study and all staff involved in the management and execution of this project.

FundersFunder number
European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program819298
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Medical Research Council program)GB-MW 940-38-011
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (ZonMW Brainpower grant)100-001-004
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (ZonMw Risk Behavior and Dependence grants)60-60600-97-118
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (ZonMw Culture and Health grant)261-98-710
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Social Sciences Council medium-sized investment grants)GB-MaGW 480-01-006, GB-MaGW 480-07-001
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (Social Sciences Council project grants)GB-MaGW 452-04-314, GB-MaGW 452-06-004
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (ZonMW Longitudinal Cohort Research on Early Detection and Treatment in Mental Health Care grant636340002
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (NWO large-sized investment grant)175.010.2003.005
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (NWO Longitudinal Survey and Panel Funding)481-08-013, 481-11-001
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (NWO)Vici 016.130.002, 453-16-007/2735, Vi.C.191.021
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO (NWO Gravitation)024.001.003
Dutch Ministry of Justice (WODC)
European Science Foundation (EuroSTRESS project)FP-006
European Research CouncilERC-2017-STG-757364, ERC-CoG-2015-681466
Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure BBMRI-NLCP 32
Gratama foundation
Jan Dekker foundation
Accare Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
European Research Council (ERC)819298

    Keywords

    • Adolescence
    • Friendship quality
    • Gender
    • Internalizing and externalizing problems
    • Residential mobility

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