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Lifetime Adversity Prospectively Predicts Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Impairment in a Nationally Representative Sample of Older Adults in the United States
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  • SangNam Ahn,
  • Seonghoon Kim,
  • Hongmei Zhang,
  • Aram Dobalian,
  • George Slavich
SangNam Ahn
Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Seonghoon Kim
Singapore Management University School of Economics
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Hongmei Zhang
The University of Memphis School of Public Health
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Aram Dobalian
The Ohio State University College of Public Health
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George Slavich
University of California Los Angeles Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
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Abstract

Objective: Although life stress and adversity have emerged as risk factors for mental health problems and cognitive impairment among older adults, prior studies on this topic have been cross-sectional and based on relatively homogeneous samples. To address these issues, we examined prospective associations between lifetime adversity and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of older adults in the U.S. Method: We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2016). The sample included 3,496 individuals (59.9% female), aged ≥64 years old (M age=76.0 ±7.6 years). We used the individual-level panel data and ordinary least squares regressions to estimate associations between childhood and adulthood adversities and later-life depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Results: Many participants experienced a significant early life (38%) or adulthood (79%) stressor. Second, experiencing a childhood adversity was associated with a 17.4% increased risk of experiencing an adulthood adversity. Finally, childhood and adulthood adversities both prospectively predicted more symptoms of late-life depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. Discussion: These findings are among the first to demonstrate prospective associations between lifetime adversity and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in older adults. Screening for lifetime stressors may thus help health care professionals and policymakers identify individuals who could benefit from interventions designed to reduce stress and enhance resilience.
14 Jan 2023Submitted to Journal of Clinical Psychology
15 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
15 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
22 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 Jan 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
04 May 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Major
29 Jul 20231st Revision Received
01 Aug 2023Submission Checks Completed
01 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Aug 2023Assigned to Editor
03 Aug 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
31 Oct 20232nd Revision Received
31 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
31 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
31 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending