Perceptions of Childhood Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Cognitive Function in Middle and Late Adulthood

Abstract

Background and objectives: Framed within the life course perspective and the neighborhood stress model, this study investigated the association between perceptions of childhood neighborhood social cohesion and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. We also examined whether gender, childhood hukou status, the Chinese national administrative household registration system, and birth cohort moderated the association.

Research design and methods: This study used 3 waves of nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015; N = 11,469). Cognitive function was measured with the Telephone Interview for Cognition Status instrument. Two-level multilevel modeling was employed to address the research questions.

Results: A higher overall level of childhood neighborhood social cohesion was associated with a higher baseline level of cognitive function (b = 0.26, p < .001) and a slower rate of cognitive decline (b = 0.10, p = .010). Birth cohort membership moderated the linkage between childhood neighborhood social cohesion and the level of cognitive function (b = 0.35, p < .001) and cognitive decline (b = 0.19, p = .014). Gender and childhood hukou status did not moderate these associations.

Discussion and implications: These findings underscored the long-term ramifications of childhood conditions for later-life cognitive function. Social cohesion at the neighborhood level during childhood may be a factor that promotes healthy cognitive aging.

Keywords: Brain health; CHARLS; Cognition; Neighborhood social fragmentation.