The enduring impact of adverse childhood family experiences on depressive symptoms in late adulthood: a network analysis based on CHARLS data

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BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood family experiences (ACFEs) have been linked to increased risk of depression in later life, but the underlying psychological pathways remain underexplored. This study employed network analysis to examine how ACFEs relate to depressive symptoms in older adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). An undirected network was estimated using items assessing ACFEs (e.g., lack of affection, harsh discipline, favoritism, physical abuse, and parental conflict), and depressive symptoms assessed via the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Expected influence (EI) and bridge expected influence (BEI) were analyzed to determine central and bridge symptoms, respectively. Network stability was evaluated using case-dropping procedures, and gender-based differences were evaluated via Network Comparison Test (NCT). RESULTS: The final sample consisted of 13,838 individuals (mean age = 57.8 years, SD = 9.8), of whom 52.4% were female. In the network, "felt depressed" (EI = 1.711), "guardian favoring siblings" (EI = 1.204), "relationship with female guardian" (EI = 1.048), and "bothered by things" (EI = 1.019) were identified as central symptoms. "Female guardian hit you" (BEI = 0.523), "mother beat up father" (BEI = 0.348), "parents quarrel" (BEI = 0.307), and "siblings hit you" (BEI = 0.291) were identified as the bridge symptoms. Gender differences were significant, with females exhibiting a more densely interconnected symptom network than males. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the enduring impact of childhood family dynamics on mental health in late adulthood. Interventions targeting trauma-informed care, family conflict resolution, and emotional regulation may be particularly beneficial for older adults with histories of early-life adversity, especially women.

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