Psychological effects of moving house frequently

If you have moved at least once in your life, you know how stressful the relocation process is as well as all the intricacies that come with it. Sure, moving into a new apartment is one thing, but what about a job offer in a completely new city. Or maybe you care for an aging person. Or maybe your significant other is in the military. Whatever the reason may be, having multiple long-distance moves and starting anew each time can seem overwhelming. But what remains to be seen is – how does it impact you on an emotional and cognitive level? Whether you’re moving with the help of moving companies Brockville or by yourself, you’ll experience the same effects everyone does. Read on to see what are psychological effects of moving house frequently and how you can prevent its harmful side from happening to you or your family.

The effects of frequent moving on adults

Psychology says that in most cases long-distance moving is more than just a stressful process. It usually means a great change that gives birth to many emotional moments that are gonna have a lasting effect later on in one’s life. Frequent moving is obviously stressful, but it can also have a lot more serious effect on many people in their adulthood.

Research also shows that “frequent movers” are more likely to abandon relationships along with material possessions. As the study reports, individuals who are “frequent movers” tend to view their material possession and relationships with other people as disposable. With the help of best movers Ottawa, you need not leave these material things behind you.

However, not everything is as dark. According to research from the Journal of Experimental Psychology, the same individuals are more likely to remember events related to relocation. The reason being that processes such as moving tend to appear as a turning point in one’s life, hence why they end up being imprinted in one’s memory so firmly.

As the research from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports, individuals who have changed many places of residence while growing up have a substantially higher risk of substance abuse, suicide, or even premature death.

Psychological effects of moving house frequently on children

As the study from 2010 reports, frequent moving is tough on kids and tends to disrupt important friendships, but this is solely reserved for kids who are introverted, as well as personalities tending toward anxiety. Adults with a history of frequent moving usually score lower on the life-satisfaction scale. They also have few high-quality relationships. With the help of storage solutions Ottawa, you may be in control of alleviating these effects.

The reason kids are often negatively affected by the moving is that a moving process often comes midway through a life-changing event such as divorce or job loss. Kids always notice when parents are stressed or upset, study shows. In addition to that, moving is hardest on kids in the middle of transition periods like puberty or school change.

Bonus tip: It’s always a good idea to rely on the renting a truck that a moving company offers because it allows you to move a lot of things at once. That’s one way to lessen the psychological effects of moving frequently.

Making friends as an adult in a new place

Patience is indispensable when making new friends. A study that asked how much time it takes before someone feels like a friend reports that it takes close to 50 hours to become a casual friend with someone. On the other hand, it takes 100 hours to become real friends. After that, it takes 200 hours for someone to feel like a best friend. It’s important to point out that numbers vary by person. Befriending someone should feel like a marathon, not a sprint.

Here are some tips to follow in order to make new friends while battling psychological effects of moving house frequently

1. Be a listener

The key to becoming likable is becoming a good listener. So how do you become a good listener? The key is to act more like a trampoline and less as a head-nodder. What does that mean? As the study reports, good listeners are those who actively ask questions. Instead of acting like a sounding board, it is imperative to act as a trampoline, meaning giving back energy. In a nutshell, good listeners aren’t passive, they promote insight and discovery.

2. Be specific when offering support

No matter if you’re trying to encourage your best friend regarding a presentation he has or dilute his fear regarding separation anxiety, it’s always preferable to avoid generic phrases such as “You got this!”. Instead, try offering grounded compliments and not the flashy ones. That way, your friend will feel closer to you and it will make him feel better as well.

3. Oversharing

A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology claims that oversharing, or being an open book resonates well with people when making new friends. However, oversharing only works if you time it right. Overshare facts about yourself too soon and you risk turning away your new friend, too late and you’ll miss the chance to connect.

4. Casual Acquaintances

It is advisable to not ignore casual acquaintances but rather invest in them. It means that even interacting with people who are not that good of a friend has a positive influence on well-being.

5. Reconnecting with people from the past

Another study shows that reconnecting with people from the past can be especially rewarding. Old friends can easily build on to the old flame while offering insight into what they had been up to in the meantime.

Helping your kids make new friends after a move

With these tips you’ll deal with psychological effects of moving house frequently easily.

1. New situations

Prepare your kids for the new situations by talking them through the familiar scenario beforehand such as someone’s birthday party. Make sure that your kids behave the same as at every birthday party they’ve been to up until this point. That will make them feel relaxed and in control of the situation.

2. Leading by example

Always try to be an example your child would feel relaxed following. Never ask your child to do something you yourself wouldn’t do. If you yourself aren’t comfortable approaching a new group of people, don’t expect your child to do the same.

3. Pushing things too quickly

Always try to give your kid time to adapt. It means avoiding forcing things too quickly. If your kid plays comfortably on home turf with his friend, try changing the environment by taking the kids to the park. Once they become comfortable, you’re free to call new children to join them.

4. Don’t intervene

If your kid has trouble befriending new people, it is natural for a parent to step in. However, a study shows that that particular action will prevent your kid from learning “frustration tolerance”, i.e. how to deal with the current situation.