School relocation and stress in teens

Geographical relocation, with transfer to a new school, is a life transition experienced by many adolescents. The normal developmental tasks of adolescence may complicate the transition for relocated teens, particularly those with inadequate coping skills. This 2-year study, conducted in an upper-middle-income suburban community in the Northeast, with highly mobile students, compared the effects of relocation on 43 teens with matched non-relocated controls. While statistical significance was found in differences between the relocated and non-relocated groups, the relocated teens were only mildly anxious. There were no significant differences between the groups for depression, hostility, life events, or coping. Implications for schools and school nursing regarding health promotion interventions with relocated adolescents are discussed.