Moving and Depression in Children

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen Divorce Is the ReasonKeeping Old Friends While Making New OnesMental HealthHow Parents Can Be ProactiveWhen Relocation Depression Occurs

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

When Divorce Is the Reason

Keeping Old Friends While Making New Ones

Mental Health

How Parents Can Be Proactive

When Relocation Depression Occurs

Research shows a connection between moving anddepression in children, especially when the move involves changing schools.A move doesn’t affect every child this way, but the association between depression and this life-changing event warrants awareness and a plan to ensure a smooth transition. Here are a few common considerations for a move and tips to help your child cope.

If possible, keep your child in the same school or district. Changing schools can be particularly difficult for children in the elementary and middle school years. If your child has previously fallen behind academically, moving to a more advanced curriculum may overwhelm them or cause academic failure that can be devastating toself-esteem. These effects can be long-lasting and can limit the number of quality relationships in adulthood.

If you are moving as the result of a divorce or other family restructuring, be especially sensitive to your child’s needs and feelings. Your child will not only be adjusting to a new home and environment but also to a new family structure.

A move combined with a change in the family could be traumatic for a child and trigger feelings of insecurity, isolation, or anger, which are often seen in depression. Keeping to your child’s current routine as much as possible can help foster a sense of stability.

Adjustment Disorder: When We Struggle to Adapt to Change

The Importance of Keeping Old Friends

Making new friends in their new environment is crucial for your child, but maintaining old friendships is important, too. Allow your child to communicate with and see their old friends whenever possible.

One study found that children who wereintrovertedwere more likely to experience lasting negative effects from a move. This might be because introverted children have difficulty forming relationships, which moving tends to disrupt.

The more relationships that your child has, the more they will feel supported and confident in their ability to make new friends. A child who has no peers to connect with may withdraw from school and social activities.

If you notice signs and symptoms of depression or new or unexplained behaviors in your child, consult with your child’s healthcare provider as soon as possible. A physician can determine a cause and prescribe treatment, if appropriate. It is extremely important to identify andtreat depressionearly in children.

Children who have had previous mental health issues, especially depression, are more likely to experience depression again. Research suggests thatmovingis a significant life stressor for children.In fact, moving schools can be as traumatic as having a parent hospitalized for a serious medical illness.

Some children, especially those with a past mental illness, are prone to depression as a result of stress. Be on alert for signs, and consider speaking with your child’s therapist about a care plan before you leave. Ask for a referral to a new provider in your new town.

How to Tell If Your Child Shows Symptoms of Depression

Not all children become depressed with a move, but it’s a possibility. Here are a few strategies to minimize the risk:

If you know that your move will come with additional stressors, considerstarting your child in counseling. This could be especially helpful if they’ve experienced past episodes of depression.

Although the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Volume 5) doesn’t list relocation depression specifically, it’s a type ofsituational depressionand carries the same signs and symptoms of depression in your child, which might include:

It’s normal for a child to be nervous about a move and to need more attention and reassurance than usual for the first few weeks of the transition. They might even have sleep disturbances, which should resolve without treatment in several days.

If you or a loved one are struggling with depression, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

What to Know About Childhood Depression

A Word From Verywell

Moving can be stressful and even traumatic for kids. They don’t yet have the experience and maturity to deal with a change that’s big enough to upset even adults. Be on the lookout for signs of depression, and get professional help promptly if you suspect it’s developing.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Morris, T., Manley, D., Northstone, K., & Sabel, C. E. (2017).How do moving and other major life events impact mental health? A longitudinal analysis of UK children.Health & Place,46, 257–266. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2017.06.004Oishi S, Schimmack U.Residential mobility, well-being, and mortality.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2010;98(6):980-94. doi:10.1037/a0019389Alexander KL, Entwisle DR, Dauber SL.Children in motion: School transfers and elementary school performance.Journal of Educational Research. 1996; 90(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/00220671.1996.9944438American Psychiatric Association, & American Psychiatric Association (Eds.). (2013).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5(5th ed). American Psychiatric Association.

Oishi S, Schimmack U.Residential mobility, well-being, and mortality.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2010;98(6):980-94. doi:10.1037/a0019389

Alexander KL, Entwisle DR, Dauber SL.Children in motion: School transfers and elementary school performance.Journal of Educational Research. 1996; 90(1):3-12. doi:10.1080/00220671.1996.9944438

American Psychiatric Association, & American Psychiatric Association (Eds.). (2013).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5(5th ed). American Psychiatric Association.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Adjusting to Divorce. Healthy Children website. Updated November 21, 2015.

How Do Children and Adolescents Experience Depression? National Institute of Mental Health.

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The Importance of Keeping Old Friends#

A Word From Verywell#

The Importance of Keeping Old Friends

A Word From Verywell