Adverse childhood friendship and depression in later life: findings from a national survey in China.

BACKGROUND

To explore the relationships between childhood friendship and depression among older adults in China, and provide evidence for policy-making to promote the mental health of older adults from a novel perspective.

METHODS

Data from the China Longitudinal Study of Health and Retirement (CHARLS) were used in this study. Logistic regression models were adopted to assess the association between childhood friendships and depression symptoms. Additionally, trend tests were used to investigate the possible dose-response relationships.

RESULTS

A total of 6,395 participants aged 60 and above were included in this study. After adjusting for covariates, individuals with poor childhood friendship experiences showed a higher risk of late-life depression compared to respondents with better friendship experiences in childhood (OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.22-2.21, P = 0.001). Cumulative childhood friendship score associated with late-life depression exhibited a dose response. Friendship-related loneliness was most closely associated with depression in later life compared to low friendship frequency and low friendship quality (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.48-0.68, P < 0.001). The association between childhood friendship and late-life depression was particularly significant in younger, less educated people. In addition, these associations were statistically significant in the subgroups based on sex and address.

CONCLUSION

Poor childhood friendship experience was an independent risk factor for depression in later life. Health-related departments should emphasize the construction of good relationships in early life to prevent the occurrence of depression in later life.