Variation in the Relationship Between Mental Illness and Residential Transience by Race-Ethnicity.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between residential transience (moving frequently) and mental illness.

Methods: The analyses used data for approximately 154,400 adults from the 2008-2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the odds of transience among all adults and by race-ethnicity.

Results: Residential transience was more prevalent among adults with mental illness versus adults without mental illness (5.7% versus 1.9%, p<.001). In adjusted models, the odds of transience were twice as high among adults with mental illness (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.81-2.19) versus those without mental illness. This association differed by race-ethnicity. Among adults reporting multiple races, having a mental illness was associated with a fourfold increase in odds of transience.

Conclusions: Residential transience may be a concern for adults with mental illness, particularly those of multiple races. Further studies should examine whether transience is associated with difficulties in accessing care.