Why home isn’t really where the heart is
Scottish couples who move home a lot have closer relationships, according to academics.
A study has found couples who are willing to move home are more likely to build their lives around their partner.
Scots are among the most frequent movers in Britain.
Residents in Midlothian move on average every 14.9 years, Edinburgh, every 16.6 years, and Glasgow 16.8 years.
That’ s compared to the national average of 23 years.
Most people choose to up sticks in search of a better life, with just a third saying it was because of jobs, family, divorce or bereavement.
The study, led by Dr Beata Nowok, of Edinburgh University’ s Institute of Geography, found that partners were the number one priority for those people willing to move and create a new life away from family and existing friends.
“Social ties are one of the most important factors that prevent people from moving,” she said.
“Movers seem to value their partners more highly than stayers, and movers with a sustained desire to move, value them even more than their social lives.
“This may seem intuitive because a partner would probably be the most important social connection that a mover continued to have after relocating, while for stayers other aspects of their social network would not have been ruptured.”
Yesterday psychologist Cynthia McVey said trust in a partner must come first.
“Moving can be a testing time, which can bring about the best in people and the worst,” she explained.
“If you are highly dependent on your neighbours for emotional support, and are not close to your partner then you may be very reluctant to move.
“Certainly if you are already insecure in your partnership and relationship then you would miss, and worry about those you socialise and confide in.
“However if you are very confident and secure with your partner, and you get lots of support from them, and your partner says,‘ let’s move to the country and try that out’, you are more likely to say ‘yes.’
“It must be a compliment to the existing relationship to be willing to move, and it can even bring you closer together.”
More than 15,000 people took part in the 12-year long British Household Panel Survey.
Volunteers were asked about any moves they had made, or planned and, reasons why.
They found that quality of life was among the most common reason given for what can be a huge upheaval to family life.
“Dissatisfaction in the housing domain was the most powerful trigger both for ‘desire to move’ and also for actual migration.”
The study in the journal Urban Studies said people whose“social life is less important for their overall life satisfaction” were most likey to move, rather than just talk about it.
Afterwards they reported improved wellbeing in all areas of life satisfaction, including relationships.
However, despite the majority of people being much happier after the move, one in 10 soon come to regret it.
A nd even the most satisfied homemaker was ready to move again, within five years, as they and their family outgrew their new homes. “Five years after migration, housing satisfaction is similar to the levels recorded initially, said McVey.
“This could be a logical outcome when a ‘new home’ no longer matches a mover’s needs – for example if a couple experience the growth of their family as a result of having more children.”