Background 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.
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 and to reduce health inequalities, more help and health interventions should be offered to groups with negative childhood experiences.