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24-11-2022 | Original Investigation

Childhood experiences and frailty trajectory among middle-aged and older adults in China

Authors: Yuqi Yan, Liqing Cai, Nan Lu

Published in: European Journal of Ageing | Issue 4/2022

Abstract

This study examined the associations between childhood experiences and frailty trajectory among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Data were derived from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. We used data from all four waves (i.e., 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018) and the life history survey in 2014. Data for 10,963 respondents were included. Latent growth curve models were conducted to examine the proposed model. The results show that adverse childhood experiences, self-rated childhood socioeconomic status, and the objective indicators of childhood health and health care were associated with both the baseline level and change rate of frailty. The educational attainment of fathers and perceived childhood health and healthcare conditions were associated with baseline frailty only. Our findings highlight the crucial role of childhood antecedents in the progression of frailty in later life. We further found strong evidence that childhood is an essential life stage for human development. Future social policies and interventions should use childhood experiences as a screening tool and promote child protection, health education, and life course interventions.

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Title: Childhood experiences and frailty trajectory among middle-aged and older adults in China
Authors: Yuqi Yan
Liqing Cai
Nan Lu
Publication date: 24-11-2022
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: European Journal of Ageing / Issue 4/2022
Print ISSN: 1613-9372
Electronic ISSN: 1613-9380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-022-00746-7

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Childhood experiences and frailty trajectory among middle-aged and older adults in China

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