Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), sleep, and lower extremity function in older adults using a nationally representative cohort. Methods This study included 4,439 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age: 67.2 ± 5.7 year...

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Main Authors: Jiaqiang Xiao, Xiaosheng Dong, Meng Ding, Tao Kong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Psychology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02396-7
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author Jiaqiang Xiao
Xiaosheng Dong
Meng Ding
Tao Kong
author_facet Jiaqiang Xiao
Xiaosheng Dong
Meng Ding
Tao Kong
author_sort Jiaqiang Xiao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), sleep, and lower extremity function in older adults using a nationally representative cohort. Methods This study included 4,439 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age: 67.2 ± 5.7 years) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2015 national survey and the 2014 Life History Survey. ACEs, sleep duration, and sleep quality were assessed through self-report, and lower extremity function was measured using the Short physical performance battery (SPPB). The relationships between ACEs, sleep, and lower extremity function were analyzed using multivariate linear regression model and restricted cubic splines. Results After adjusting for covariates, older adults with four or more ACEs exhibited worse lower extremity function compared to those with no ACEs (β: -0.175). 6–8 h of sleep was associated with improved lower extremity function (β: 0.119), while good sleep quality was also associated with higher lower extremity function scores (β: 0.177). Age-related differences revealed that the association between four or more ACEs and reduced lower extremity function (β: -0.431) was significant only in individuals aged 70 years and older. In the 60–69 years age group, the sleep duration of 6–8 h was significantly related to better lower extremity function (β: 0.150), however, in those aged 70 years and older, more than 8 h of sleep was associated with poorer function (β: -0.378). Furthermore, good sleep quality was associated with better lower extremity function in individuals aged 70 years and older (β: 0.246). Conclusion ACEs, particularly household mental illness and parental disability, are associated with poorer lower extremity function in older adults. Normal sleep duration and good sleep quality are linked to better lower extremity function and may mitigate the negative effects of ACEs. However, these associations vary by age.
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spelling doaj-art-d8bcaee2d9c54f9480c3c7740b521a702025-02-02T12:48:06ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-01-0113111110.1186/s40359-025-02396-7Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLSJiaqiang Xiao0Xiaosheng Dong1Meng Ding2Tao Kong3College of Physical Education, Shandong Normal UniversityCentre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversityCollege of Physical Education, Shandong Normal UniversityCollege of Physical Education, Shandong Normal UniversityAbstract Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), sleep, and lower extremity function in older adults using a nationally representative cohort. Methods This study included 4,439 participants aged 60 years or older (mean age: 67.2 ± 5.7 years) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2015 national survey and the 2014 Life History Survey. ACEs, sleep duration, and sleep quality were assessed through self-report, and lower extremity function was measured using the Short physical performance battery (SPPB). The relationships between ACEs, sleep, and lower extremity function were analyzed using multivariate linear regression model and restricted cubic splines. Results After adjusting for covariates, older adults with four or more ACEs exhibited worse lower extremity function compared to those with no ACEs (β: -0.175). 6–8 h of sleep was associated with improved lower extremity function (β: 0.119), while good sleep quality was also associated with higher lower extremity function scores (β: 0.177). Age-related differences revealed that the association between four or more ACEs and reduced lower extremity function (β: -0.431) was significant only in individuals aged 70 years and older. In the 60–69 years age group, the sleep duration of 6–8 h was significantly related to better lower extremity function (β: 0.150), however, in those aged 70 years and older, more than 8 h of sleep was associated with poorer function (β: -0.378). Furthermore, good sleep quality was associated with better lower extremity function in individuals aged 70 years and older (β: 0.246). Conclusion ACEs, particularly household mental illness and parental disability, are associated with poorer lower extremity function in older adults. Normal sleep duration and good sleep quality are linked to better lower extremity function and may mitigate the negative effects of ACEs. However, these associations vary by age.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02396-7Adverse childhood experiencesSleep qualitySleep durationLower extremity function
spellingShingle Jiaqiang Xiao
Xiaosheng Dong
Meng Ding
Tao Kong
Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
BMC Psychology
Adverse childhood experiences
Sleep quality
Sleep duration
Lower extremity function
title Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
title_full Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
title_fullStr Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
title_full_unstemmed Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
title_short Adverse childhood experiences, sleep quality/duration and later-life lower extremity function among older adults in China: evidence from CHARLS
title_sort adverse childhood experiences sleep quality duration and later life lower extremity function among older adults in china evidence from charls
topic Adverse childhood experiences
Sleep quality
Sleep duration
Lower extremity function
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02396-7
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