The mediating role of childhood emotional neglect in the association between childhood neighborhood quality and adult depression outcomes: A nationwide longitudinal analysis

Abstract

Background

Depression is a prevalent mental health disorder with personal and societal costs. Childhood experiences, including neighborhood quality and emotional neglect, may influence adult depression risk.

Objective

To examine the relationships between childhood neighborhood quality (CNQ), childhood emotional neglect (CEN), and adult depressive symptoms, and investigate the potential mediating role of CEN.

Participants and setting

15,730 Chinese adults aged 45 and above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).

Methods

Weighted multiple regression, Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediation and Bootstrap mediation analyses were conducted to assess the relationships between CNQ, CEN, and adult depressive symptoms and depression risk, using longitudinal data.

Results

Higher CNQ was associated with lower depressive symptoms (β = −0.316, p < 0.001) and depression risk (β = −0.084, p < 0.001). Higher CEN was associated with increased depressive symptoms (β = 0.084, p < 0.01) and depression risk (β = 0.020, p > 0.05). CEN partially mediated the relationship between CNQ and depressive symptoms (KHB: β = −0.010, p < 0.01; Bootstrap: β = −0.007, p < 0.05) and depression risk (KHB: β = −0.003, p < 0.05; Bootstrap: β = −0.002, p > 0.05), accounting for 3.50 % (KHB) and 2.36 % (bootstrap) of the total effects for depressive symptoms, and 3.82 % (KHB) and 1.97 % (bootstrap) for depression risk.

Conclusions

Both CNQ and CEN independently influence adult depression, with CEN partially mediating the CNQ-depression relationship. These findings suggest that interventions targeting both neighborhood conditions and family environments may be crucial for preventing adult depression.