Negative childhood experiences and health inequalities among adults over 45: Evidence from China

Abstract

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.