Fan Tian1, Steven Siyao Meng2, Peiyuan Qiu3. 1. West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA. 3. West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; West China Research Center for Rural Health Development, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. Electronic address: qiupeiyuan@scu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The cumulative effect of childhood adversities on depressive symptoms in later life is well documented. However, there is a dearth of accurate information about this effect among Chinese population. The aim of this study is to examine the cumulative effect of childhood adversities on mid-late depressive symptoms in the Chinese population. METHODS: Data were drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We included 17,425 respondents aged 45 and over, and retrospectively collected information of childhood adversities. The depressive symptoms were assessed using a 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A structural equation model was employed for analysis. RESULTS: Parental mental health problems had a direct effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.180, P < 0.001). Lack of friends showed direct effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.118, P < 0.001) and indirect effect through low SES and poor health status in mid-late life (β = 0.054, P < 0.001). Poor health status, child neglect and abuse, and low SES in childhood had an indirect effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.128, β = 0.040, β = 0.098, P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include recall bias on life course data collection, absence of adolescent data, limited construction of latent variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are crucial for preventing childhood adversities and subsequently reducing the prevalence of depression. Moreover, the indirect effects of childhood adversities suggest that early intervention and resource mobilization can circumvent some of the long-term mental health consequences.
BACKGROUND: The cumulative effect of childhood adversities on depressive symptoms in later life is well documented. However, there is a dearth of accurate information about this effect among Chinese population. The aim of this study is to examine the cumulative effect of childhood adversities on mid-late depressive symptoms in the Chinese population. METHODS: Data were drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). We included 17,425 respondents aged 45 and over, and retrospectively collected information of childhood adversities. The depressive symptoms were assessed using a 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A structural equation model was employed for analysis. RESULTS: Parental mental health problems had a direct effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.180, P < 0.001). Lack of friends showed direct effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.118, P < 0.001) and indirect effect through low SES and poor health status in mid-late life (β = 0.054, P < 0.001). Poor health status, child neglect and abuse, and low SES in childhood had an indirect effect on mid-late depressive symptoms (β = 0.128, β = 0.040, β = 0.098, P < 0.001). LIMITATIONS: Limitations of this study include recall bias on life course data collection, absence of adolescent data, limited construction of latent variables. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are crucial for preventing childhood adversities and subsequently reducing the prevalence of depression. Moreover, the indirect effects of childhood adversities suggest that early intervention and resource mobilization can circumvent some of the long-term mental health consequences.
Authors: Wei Yang; Bei Wu; Si Ying Tan; Bingqin Li; Vivian W Q Lou; Zhuo Adam Chen; Xi Chen; James Rupert Fletcher; Ludovico Carrino; Bo Hu; Anwen Zhang; Min Hu; Yixiao Wang Journal: Res Aging Date: 2020-07-17