This paper used pooled cross-sectional data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to comprehensively investigate how childhood experiences of starvation affect the health of older Chinese adults. The study found that the childhood experience of starvation was negatively correlated with self-rated health, functional health and cognitive health among older adults. After using the model and variable substitution methods to address the endogeneity problems caused by omitted variables, the negative effects of childhood experiences of starvation on the health of older adults were still present. The Karlson-Holm-Breen decomposition method was used to test the mediation effects, and it was found that childhood experiences of starvation had adverse effects on the health of older adults through endowment insurance, household income, education and nutrition. Consequently, the government should strengthen nutrition or other related health interventions for children and make longer-term plans for improving the health of older adults. K E Y W O R D S childhood experience of starvation, China, health, older adults 1 | INTRODUCTION Among the many indicators used to measure human welfare, health is the most closely related to individual survival. Currently, with the increasing ageing of the population, countries worldwide are faced with challenges with regard to supporting the health and quality of life of the elderly population. In 1990, with the aim of improving the

Growing health inequalities have become an important challenge for Chinese society. This study analyses the impact of negative childhood experiences on health among Chinese adults over 45. Data were derived from the 2014 Life Course Survey under the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, with a total sample of 5,842 adults over the age of 45. The results showed that negative childhood experiences had a significant negative impact on the health of adults over 45 (β = −0.021, p < .001). The concentration index decomposition revealed that negative childhood experiences were associated with more health inequalities. The elasticity coefficient for negative childhood experiences was −0.119, the concentration index of negative childhood experiences was −0.019, and the contribution to health inequalities was 12.86%. The mechanism test and analysis found that negative childhood experiences had a greater negative impact on the health of the low‐income group than on that of the high‐income group. Therefore, health inequality should be viewed from life course theory. To reduce residents' health inequalities, government's decision‐making should be forward looking and start early in life; interventions should be pursued in residents who have had unfortunate childhood experiences. Highlights Negative childhood experiences have a negative impact on self‐rated health. Negative childhood experiences were associated with more health inequalities. Negative childhood experiences have a greater negative impact on the health of the low‐income group than on that of the high‐income group.

Background: Growing health inequalities have become an important challenge forChinese society. This study analyses the impact of negative childhood experiences on health among Chinese adults over 45. Methods:This study utilized data from the 2014 Life Course Survey under the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, with a total sample of 5,842 adults over the age of 45. This paper used a linear regression model to analyse the factors affecting the self-rated health of respondents. The concentration index was then used to measure the degree of health inequality, and finally, we decomposed the concentration index. Results:The regression results showed that negative childhood experiences had a significant negative impact on the health of adults over 45 (β = -0.021, p < .000). The concentration index decomposition found that negative childhood experiences was associated with more health inequalities. The elasticity coefficient for negative childhood experiences was -0.119, the concentration index of negative childhood experiences was -0.019, and the contribution to health inequalities was 12.86%. The mechanism test and analysis found that negative childhood experiences have a greater negative impact on the health of the low-income group than on that of the high-income group. In fact, negative childhood experiences have reduced the socioeconomic status of respondents, leading to a decline in healthcare utilization, which has increased health inequalities in China. Conclusion:This study found that negative childhood experiences was associated with health inequalities among adults over 45 in China. To improve the health of residents 3 and to reduce health inequalities, more help and health interventions should be offered to groups with negative childhood experiences.