Zhenmei Zhang1, Hongwei Xu2, Lydia W Li3, Jinyu Liu4, Seung-Won Emily Choi5. 1. Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. 2. Department of Sociology, Queens College - CUNY, Flushing, New York. 3. School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 4. School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, New York. 5. Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the longitudinal relationships between retrospective reports of early-life social relationships (i.e., having good friends, parent-child relationship quality, and childhood neighborhood social cohesion) and episodic memory in China. METHODS: We analyzed 2 waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The analytical sample included 9,285 respondents aged 45 and older at baseline. A lagged dependent variable approach was used to estimate the associations between measures of early-life social relationships and episodic memory change at the study's 4-year follow-up. RESULTS: Retrospective reports of better early-life social relationships are significantly associated with higher levels of episodic memory performance in 2015 among middle-aged and older Chinese, controlling for episodic memory in 2011, childhood socioeconomic status, adulthood sociodemographic variables, and the history of stroke. Educational attainment accounts for a significant portion of the associations between early-life social relationships and episodic memory. In contrast, mental health and social engagement in adulthood account for a small part of these associations. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that positive early-life social relationships are beneficial for episodic memory in mid- and late life, and more research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms.
OBJECTIVES: This study examines the longitudinal relationships between retrospective reports of early-life social relationships (i.e., having good friends, parent-child relationship quality, and childhood neighborhood social cohesion) and episodic memory in China. METHODS: We analyzed 2 waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The analytical sample included 9,285 respondents aged 45 and older at baseline. A lagged dependent variable approach was used to estimate the associations between measures of early-life social relationships and episodic memory change at the study's 4-year follow-up. RESULTS: Retrospective reports of better early-life social relationships are significantly associated with higher levels of episodic memory performance in 2015 among middle-aged and older Chinese, controlling for episodic memory in 2011, childhood socioeconomic status, adulthood sociodemographic variables, and the history of stroke. Educational attainment accounts for a significant portion of the associations between early-life social relationships and episodic memory. In contrast, mental health and social engagement in adulthood account for a small part of these associations. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that positive early-life social relationships are beneficial for episodic memory in mid- and late life, and more research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms.
Authors: Laura B Zahodne; Neika Sharifian; Jennifer J Manly; Jennifer A Sumner; Michael Crowe; Virginia G Wadley; Virginia J Howard; Audrey R Murchland; Willa D Brenowitz; Jennifer Weuve Journal: Psychol Aging Date: 2019-09-30
Authors: Breno S Diniz; Meryl A Butters; Steven M Albert; Mary Amanda Dew; Charles F Reynolds Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 9.319