Purpose: A vibrant body of research examines migration among older adults. Existing research, however, grants scarce attention to the implications of later-life migration for the migrants themselves. Our research focuses on the impacts of migration on depressive symptomatology among older U.S. adults. Methods: Our analysis employs six waves of panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, 1996-2006. Growth curve modeling techniques are employed. Results: Net of other stressful life events, migration effects appear to vary significantly across persons. Findings highlight the particularly depressive impact of moves motivated by negative life events or circumstances. Results further suggest that later life moves may be especially stressful for women and as individuals age. Discussion: The stress of moving late in life may depend on social integration at destination. Further research should pursue this issue. Study limitations and additional directions for further research are delineated. © The Author(s) 2010.

Migration residential mobility Mental health life events Well-being

depression Models, Psychological psychological model psychological aspect mental health human Life Change Events middle aged aging life event Stress, Psychological mental stress health status Adaptation, Psychological retirement Happiness Humans male female Multivariate Analysis adaptive behavior theoretical model Psychometrics Models, Theoretical psychometry Article migration age Age Factors Transients and Migrants