Purdue News

January 20, 2004

Failing to make friends after a move takes toll on emotional health

Just as you would replace a vase or piece of China that broke in a move across the country, Americans need to find new people to step into their lives to account for family and friends left behind, says a Purdue University communications expert.

"It's estimated that more than 40 percent of the population is on the move, and Americans are losing their close, family-type relationships because we move away from each other at such an alarming rate," says Glenn Sparks, a communication professor who studies the effects of mass media. "We don't tend to replace the relationships that we leave behind. Instead, we tend to rely on mass media, such as reality television, to fill the relationship void, which only contributes to our increasing isolation."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly half of all Americans moved from 1995-2000. Sparks, who is co-author of the book "Refrigerator Rights," says people should consider the cost of moving away before deciding to relocate. Refrigerator rights refers to the type of warm relationships that allow free reign over the contents of a friend's refrigerator.

"If moving is absolutely necessary, then it is vital to consciously seek to build a replacement network of close friendships," he says. "These types of relationships contribute to one's overall emotional and physical health. If you enjoy a particular type of activity, such as singing, biking or gardening, find someone to do it with you instead of doing it alone."

CONTACT: Sparks, (765) 494-3316, gsparks@purdue.edu.