Childhood and Adulthood Social Relationships and Trajectories of Cognitive Function Among Older Chinese Adults

ObjectivesThis study investigates whether early-life and mid-life social relationships with family and friends shape the heterogeneity of later-life cognitive trajectories and whether household registration status moderates the associations.MethodsThe study uses data from 2011-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 12,564). Cognitive function is assessed with a Chinese version of Telephone Interview for Cognition Status. Childhood social relationships are assessed with relationship quality with mother and father, whether respondent had a good friend, and had group of friends spending time with. Adulthood social relationships are assessed with weekly contact with children and social interactions with friends. Group-based trajectory modeling and multinomial logistic regression models are employed.ResultsThe study identifies four distinct cognitive trajectories. Results indicate respondents who had a better relationship with their mothers, who often had a group of friends during childhood, and who had social interactions with friends during adulthood are associated with more favorable cognitive trajectories. No moderation effects for Hukou status were found.ConclusionsThe findings underscore the enduring impacts of early-life social relationships and the impacts of adult social relationships in shaping later-life cognitive trajectory outcomes. Intervention programs aimed at establishing supportive social relationships may help slow later-life cognitive decline.