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Exploring housing trajectories in later life and their links to demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics : the register RELOC-AGE study

Mtutu, R Samu LU orcid ; Iwarsson, Susanne LU ; Björk, Jonas LU orcid ; Christie, Nick LU and Gefenaite, Giedre LU orcid (2025) In BMC Public Health
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In Sweden, most older adults continue to age in dwellings they have lived in for many years, with a small proportion relocating. Longitudinal studies examining relocation histories, especially among younger old adults and those beyond frail populations, are scarce. This study aimed to describe individuals who stayed in their homes (stayers) and those who relocated (movers) while identifying and describing the housing trajectories of the movers and how they were predicted by (recent changes in) civil status, children in the household and health characteristics in the Swedish population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 106,962 adults born in 1957 and residing in Sweden. Movers were defined as... (More)

INTRODUCTION: In Sweden, most older adults continue to age in dwellings they have lived in for many years, with a small proportion relocating. Longitudinal studies examining relocation histories, especially among younger old adults and those beyond frail populations, are scarce. This study aimed to describe individuals who stayed in their homes (stayers) and those who relocated (movers) while identifying and describing the housing trajectories of the movers and how they were predicted by (recent changes in) civil status, children in the household and health characteristics in the Swedish population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 106,962 adults born in 1957 and residing in Sweden. Movers were defined as individuals who had relocated at least once during 2013-2020. Data on housing, demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics came from Swedish population registers. Based on housing type and tenure, housing trajectories were mapped using sequence and cluster analysis. We assessed the associations between the stayers and different relocation trajectories of movers and baseline demographic, socioeconomic and health conditions with the chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS: The majority of participants did not relocate (N = 80,836; 76%). Among the movers (N = 26,136; 24%), eight housing trajectories were identified; three with relocations within the same and five transitioning into different housing types and tenures. Housing trajectories were predicted by disposable income, education, municipality type, changes in civil status and housing composition, as well as physical and mental health.

CONCLUSION: The current study adds understanding of relocation trajectories as younger-old adults approach later life. Future research should consider adopting a life course perspective and a longer follow-up period to examine housing histories within different cultural and temporal contexts.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
BMC Public Health
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:41408526
ISSN
1471-2458
DOI
10.1186/s12889-025-25920-1
project
RELOC-AGE: How do housing choices and relocation matter for active and healthy ageing?
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2025. The Author(s).
id
86066f54-9619-400e-9b7c-9c98b51649c2
date added to LUP
2026-01-05 11:46:45
date last changed
2026-01-07 08:31:31
@article{86066f54-9619-400e-9b7c-9c98b51649c2,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: In Sweden, most older adults continue to age in dwellings they have lived in for many years, with a small proportion relocating. Longitudinal studies examining relocation histories, especially among younger old adults and those beyond frail populations, are scarce. This study aimed to describe individuals who stayed in their homes (stayers) and those who relocated (movers) while identifying and describing the housing trajectories of the movers and how they were predicted by (recent changes in) civil status, children in the household and health characteristics in the Swedish population.</p><p>MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 106,962 adults born in 1957 and residing in Sweden. Movers were defined as individuals who had relocated at least once during 2013-2020. Data on housing, demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics came from Swedish population registers. Based on housing type and tenure, housing trajectories were mapped using sequence and cluster analysis. We assessed the associations between the stayers and different relocation trajectories of movers and baseline demographic, socioeconomic and health conditions with the chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression.</p><p>RESULTS: The majority of participants did not relocate (N = 80,836; 76%). Among the movers (N = 26,136; 24%), eight housing trajectories were identified; three with relocations within the same and five transitioning into different housing types and tenures. Housing trajectories were predicted by disposable income, education, municipality type, changes in civil status and housing composition, as well as physical and mental health.</p><p>CONCLUSION: The current study adds understanding of relocation trajectories as younger-old adults approach later life. Future research should consider adopting a life course perspective and a longer follow-up period to examine housing histories within different cultural and temporal contexts.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mtutu, R Samu and Iwarsson, Susanne and Björk, Jonas and Christie, Nick and Gefenaite, Giedre}},
  issn         = {{1471-2458}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Public Health}},
  title        = {{Exploring housing trajectories in later life and their links to demographic, socioeconomic and health characteristics : the register RELOC-AGE study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25920-1}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12889-025-25920-1}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}