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Robust Indicators of Residential Mobility Derived From Longitudinal Canadian Data to Examine Population Health Across the Life Course

Author

Listed:
  • Sarah M. Mah

    (University of Toronto)

  • Emmalin Buajitti

    (University of Toronto
    McGill University
    ICES)

  • Lief Pagalan

    (University of Toronto)

  • Lori M. Diemert

    (University of Toronto)

  • Michael Tjepkema

    (Statistics Canada)

  • Tanya Christidis

    (Statistics Canada)

  • Sabrina Chiodo

    (University of Toronto)

  • Arjumand Siddiqi

    (University of Toronto)

  • Jeffrey R. Brook

    (University of Toronto)

  • Hong Chen

    (Public Health Ontario
    University of Toronto)

  • Laura C. Rosella

    (University of Toronto
    McGill University
    Trillium Health Partners Institute for Better Health
    University of Toronto)

Abstract

Where we live, how often we move, and where we move to have direct impacts on health and well-being. However, there is still a need for comprehensive data and robust approaches to assess long-term residential mobility and population-wide health. We accessed a record-linked cohort of 888,630 Canadian Community Health Survey respondents (2000-2017) for whom tax-based postal codes from as early as 1981 were available. We developed three indicators of residential mobility using postal code information captured 3, 5, and 10 years prior to date of survey response, compared our measures against estimates from the Canadian Census, and described their relationships with key sociodemographic characteristics. Residential histories extended an average of 21 years prior to interview date (range 0–37 years). Younger respondents had shorter histories due to their age. Overall, 28.1% moved within 3 years, 37.1% moved within 5 years, and 54% moved within 10 years prior to survey response. The 5-year moving rates derived in this study were similar to Census estimates, and both showed a decline in residential mobility over time. All measures of residential mobility differed to varying degrees by sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported health and wellbeing. Our study demonstrates that longitudinal linked tax and survey data can be used to produce reliable population-wide measures of residential mobility. Variations in different types of residential mobility across sociodemographic, health, and wellbeing characteristics suggest complex relationships exist between residential mobility and health, and highlights the value of examining multiple dimensions of residential mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah M. Mah & Emmalin Buajitti & Lief Pagalan & Lori M. Diemert & Michael Tjepkema & Tanya Christidis & Sabrina Chiodo & Arjumand Siddiqi & Jeffrey R. Brook & Hong Chen & Laura C. Rosella, 2025. "Robust Indicators of Residential Mobility Derived From Longitudinal Canadian Data to Examine Population Health Across the Life Course," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 937-957, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:177:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-025-03521-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-025-03521-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miriam Harris & Anne Gadermann & Monica Norena & Matthew To & Anita M. Hubley & Tim Aubry & Stephen Hwang & Anita Palepu, 2019. "Residential moves and its association with substance use, healthcare needs, and acute care use among homeless and vulnerably housed persons in Canada," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(3), pages 399-409, April.
    2. Larson, Ann & Bell, Martin & Young, Anne Frances, 2004. "Clarifying the relationships between health and residential mobility," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(10), pages 2149-2160, November.
    3. Arline Geronimus & John Bound & Annie Ro, 2014. "Residential Mobility Across Local Areas in the United States and the Geographic Distribution of the Healthy Population," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(3), pages 777-809, June.
    4. Gambaro, Ludovica & Joshi, Heather E. & Lupton, Ruth, 2017. "Moving to a better place? Residential mobility among families with young children in the Millennium Cohort Study," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 23, pages 1-14.
    5. repec:plo:pone00:0084933 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. James Randall & Peter Kitchen & Allison Williams, 2008. "Mobility, Perceptions of Quality of Life and Neighbourhood Stability in Saskatoon," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 85(1), pages 23-37, January.
    7. Grant Schellenberg & Chaohui Lu & Christoph Schimmele & Feng Hou, 2018. "The Correlates of Self-Assessed Community Belonging in Canada: Social Capital, Neighbourhood Characteristics, and Rootedness," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 597-618, November.
    8. Yang Cao & Yu Wang & Hao Wu & Chao Zhang & Shuwen Shen & Yawei Qu & Shuqi Yan, 2023. "Does Intra-Urban Residential Relocation Affect the Elderly’s Health and Well-Being? An Empirical Study of Nanjing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-21, August.
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