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 <i>China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study</i> (<i>N</i> = 12,564). Cognitive function is assessed with a Chinese version of <i>Telephone Interview for Cognition Status</i>. 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 <i>Hukou</i> 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.