Residential mobility and the family context: A developmental approach

doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2013.11.004

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Volume 35, Issue 2, March–April 2014, Pages 70-78

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2013.11.004 Get rights and content

Highlights

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We modeled how the family context was associated with residential mobility.
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Models were compared across early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence.
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Moving was consistently associated with the family context across development.
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Moving was indirectly associated with child behavior and achievement through the family context.
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Associations varied across developmental periods.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the links between residential mobility and the family context, whether these links varied across developmental periods (early childhood, middle childhood, or adolescence), and how they were associated with children's achievement and behavioral outcomes. Longitudinal data from a diverse sample of over 1000 U.S. children were used to explore family structure (marital and employment change), process (quality of the home and maternal sensitivity and depression), and residential mobility. Results of structural equation models indicated that associations between residential mobility and family structure and process varied across developmental periods, with significant links found for family process in early childhood and structure in middle childhood and adolescence. We found evidence of indirect associations between residential mobility and children's outcomes through family process in early childhood and of a direct association with internalizing behaviors in adolescence. We provide implications for programs and policies for residentially mobile children.

Section snippets

Theoretical perspectives

We use bioecological theory and a developmental systems approach as a lens to consider children's residential mobility (Bronfenbrenner and Morris, 2006, Lerner, 2006). According to these perspectives, children are nested in multiple contexts and these contexts, in conjunction with the child, are systematically integrated. Children are not sole receivers of inputs with predictable outputs and instead simultaneously create and respond to their environment, forming dynamic bidirectional

Study design and sample

This study used data from the SECCYD (NICHD ECCRN, 2005 and http://secc.rti.org for details). Data collection began in ten sites across the U.S. in 1991, in Little Rock, AR; Irvine, CA; Lawrence, KS; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Charlottesville, VA; Morganton, NC; Seattle, WA; and Madison, WI. Participants were recruited via hospital visits around the time of the child's birth. To be eligible for the study, the mother had to be at least 18 years of age, healthy, and conversant

Measurement model

As a first step, we developed a measurement model to determine that our family structure and process latent variables, and SES latent variable, were adequately modeled by our observed variables. Fit statistics indicate an excellent fit of the data to our proposed model, χ² (105) = 183.98, p < .01; CFI = .982; RMSEA = .027; SRMR = .027.

SEM results for residential mobility and family context

To examine associations between the family structure and process contexts and residential mobility, a structural equation model linking family contexts, background

Discussion

The goal of this study was to examine associations between childhood residential mobility, the family context, and children's achievement and behavior across three developmental periods. We attempted to build on existing research by developing SEMs to test our proposed models using longitudinal data from a diverse sample of U.S. children. We discuss our results in terms of the relevance of family structure and process for children's residential mobility and by developmental period.

Acknowledgment

Support was provided by the William T. Grant Foundation. The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development through a cooperative agreement (U10) that calls for a scientific collaboration between NICHD staff and participating investigators (Leventhal and Crosnoe were Co-PIs for Phase IV). We gratefully acknowledge the data set provided by this study and express our appreciation to NICHD

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Our large estimates for middle childhood and infancy, compared to earlier residential mobility studies, indicate downwardly mobile moves may exhibit more severe associations with future cognition. Estimates suggest preventing eviction may be a powerful, cost-effective way to safeguard children's cognitive development.
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It is critical to investigate residential mobility decisions to better understand the residential relocation. Mobility is identified as a vital component of the integrated transportation-land use modeling. However, limited studies capture the longer-term temporal changes during the household’s life-course. This study adopts a life history–oriented approach to investigate effects of life-trajectory dynamics on mobility. The advanced hazard-based model captures heterogeneity and accommodates effects of repeated spells along the life-course of households. The model uses data from a retrospective survey conducted in Central Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada. Parameter estimation results confirm effects of life-cycle events, sociodemographics, and accessibility. For instance, households might be active in housing market following the birth of a child. The model confirms the existence of heterogeneity. For example, urban dwellers might trigger a move following the marriage of a household member; in contrast, suburban dwellers might continue to have a longer duration of stay.
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In this prospective longitudinal study (N = 1094, M age = 5.6 years to M age = 11.1 years), we examined family factors associated with school mobility and then asked if either a move during the previous year or cumulative moves across elementary school were related to child functioning. Family factors were not linked to a recent move or a single move, but changes in family income and household structure did predict higher odds of two or more moves in elementary school. There was no evidence that a recent move or a single move was related to children's academic or social functioning. Effects of two or more moves on child functioning were not significant after controlling for the number of analyses that were conducted. Taken together, school mobility during elementary school did not appear to be a pervasive risk although we were unable to study very high rates of school mobility because of very small sample sizes.
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View full text

Residential mobility and the family context: A developmental approach

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Theoretical perspectives

Study design and sample

Measurement model

SEM results for residential mobility and family context

Discussion

Acknowledgment

Social Science Research

Social Science Research

Journal of Urban Economics

Journal of Urban Economics

Journal of Urban Economics

Journal of Adolescent Health

Manual for the child behavior checklist/4-18

Manual for the youth self-report and 1991 profile

Beyond quality: Parental and residential stability and children's adjustment

Current Directions in Psychological Science

Home sweet home(s): Parental separations, residential moves, and adjustment problems in low-income adolescent girls

Developmental Psychology

Missing data

Family structure, residential mobility, and school drop out: A research note

Demography

Structural equations with latent variables

Providing a stimulating and supportive home environment for young children

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics

The relation of the home environment, cognitive competence, and IQ among males and females

Child Development

Socioeconomic status and child development. [Review]

Annual Review of Psychology

School transitions among military adolescents: A qualitative study of stress and coping

School Psychology Review

The bioecological model of human development

An interactionist perspective on socioeconomic context of human development

Annual Review of Psychology

Some ways in which neighborhoods, nuclear families, friendship groups, and schools jointly affect changes in early adolescent development

Child Development

Mothers' and fathers' perceptions of daily hassles of parenting across early childhood

Journal of Marriage and Family

Do residential conditions explain the relationship between living arrangements and adolescent behavior?

Journal of Marriage and Family

Labor market outcomes and the transition to adulthood

The Future of Children

Income effects across the life span: Integration and interpretation

Understanding the positive role of neighborhood socioeconomic advantage in achievement: The contribution of the home, child care and school environments

Developmental Psychology

The development of children ages 6 to 14

Future of Children

The life course paradigm: Social change and individual development

Examining Lives in Context: Perspectives on the Ecology of Human Development

Reducing school mobility: A randomized trial of a relationship-building intervention

American Educational Research Journal

Transitions and turning points: Navigating the passage from childhood through adolescence

Developmental Psychology

The relation between co-rumination, maternal depressive symptoms and child psychopathology

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment

Socialization in the family: The role of parents

New kid in town: Social capital and the life course effects of family migration on children

American Sociological Review

Moving house for education in the pre-school years

British Educational Research Journal

Child events and circumstances influencing high school completion

Demography

Reconsidering peers and delinquency: How do peers matter?

Social Forces

The company you keep: Adolescent mobility and peer behavior

Sociological Inquiry

Family structure, community context, and adolescent problem behavior

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Family structure, community context, and adolescent problem behaviors

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

The housing and neighborhood conditions of America's children: Patterns and trends over four decades

Housing Policy Debate