Childhood Residential Stability and Health at Midlife

Abstract

Objectives. This study examined the association between 2 dimensions of adults’ self-rated health and residential stability in childhood. Methods. Using data from the nationally representative survey Midlife in the United States, I assessed the impact of neighborhood and family stability on positive perceptions of global health and mental health in midlife. Results. Neighborhood stability in childhood is associated with a significant increase in the likelihood that an individual will rate his or her global health highly in midlife. Both neighborhood and family stability are positively associated with good mental health in midlife. Conclusions. These results demonstrate that both childhood family stability and adult social context are associated with health outcomes later in life. (Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1144–1148)