Adverse childhood experiences and falls in older adults: The mediating role of depression.

J Affect Disord

Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China. Electronic address:

Published: November 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study investigates how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) affect the likelihood of falls in older adults, looking specifically at the role of depression as a mediator in this relationship.
  • Analysis was conducted using survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, employing logistic and Poisson regression models to assess the connections between ACEs and fall incidents.
  • Findings indicate that individuals with more ACEs are at a greater risk for falls, with depression partially mediating this link, and middle-aged adults, particularly males, are especially vulnerable.

Article Abstract

Objectives: To explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and falls in older adults, and the mediating effects of depression on such associations.

Methods: This is a prospective study used survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Twelve expanded ACEs obtained from the 2014 Life History Survey. Depression levels were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-10. Self-reported outcomes of falling evaluated based on "Have you fallen down since the last survey?" and "How many times have you fallen down seriously enough to need medical treatment?" Logistic regression models were used to explore the relationship between ACEs with falls and recurrent falls. Poisson regression models were used to explore the relationship between ACEs and number of severe falls. Besides, mediation analysis was used to explore whether depression mediates the relationship between ACEs and falls in older adults.

Results: The more adverse childhood experiences experienced, the higher the risk of fall and recurrent falls, and the more severe the falls. Additionally, depression partially mediated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and falls. Besides, middle-aged individuals were more susceptible to the impact of adverse childhood experiences on falls than older individuals, especially males.

Conclusions: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences is associated with falls in older adults, and depression partially mediates this association. Middle-aged adults were more susceptible to the impact of adverse childhood experiences on falls. These offer important information for clinical practice and public health interventions to prevent falls and reduce fall-related injuries among older adults.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.080DOI Listing

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