Domains of Childhood Disadvantage and Functional Limitation Trajectories Among Midlife Men and Women in China

Abstract

Objective: To examine the impacts of four childhood disadvantage domains—parental behavior, hunger, health, and socioeconomic status (SES)—on functional limitation trajectories among midlife adults in China. Method: Data (2011-2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study ( N = 8,646) were used to examine the associations between different domains of childhood disadvantage and functional limitation trajectories among adults aged 45 to 64. Results: Adverse parental behavior was not associated with baseline functional limitation but was associated with steeper trajectories for men. Health, hunger, and SES were associated with more functional limitations at baseline, and SES with steeper trajectories for men and women. Adulthood SES largely accounted for the associations between childhood SES and functional limitations for men. Discussion: It is important to examine multiple domains of childhood conditions because the type and magnitude of disadvantage may influence functional limitations in different ways among men and women in China.