The Association of Childhood Adversity with Social Adaptation in Old Age: A Moderated Mediation Model

Based on data from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study selected individuals aged 60 and above as the research subjects to explore the relationship between childhood adversity and social adaptation in old age. It also analyzed the mediating role of cognitive function and the moderating role of digital literacy. Correlation analysis results showed statistically significant relationships among childhood adversity, cognitive function, digital literacy, and social adaptation (P < 0.01). Regression and mediation analysis results indicated a negative association between childhood adversity and social adaptation in old age (β=-0.386, P < 0.01), as well as a negative association between childhood adversity and cognitive function (β=-0.353, P < 0.01). Cognitive function was positively associated with social adaptation in old age (β=0.183, P < 0.01). Cognitive function played a partial mediating role between childhood adversity and social adaptation in old age, accounting for 14.41% of the total effect. Moderated mediation analysis results showed that the interaction term between childhood adversity and digital literacy had a statistically significant impact on cognitive function (β=0.148, P < 0.01), indicating that digital literacy moderated the relationship between childhood adversity and cognitive function. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are proposed: utilize community health records and the elderly ability assessment system to identify and support older adults with more childhood adversity experiences; deepen digital empowerment by integrating the improvement of digital literacy among the elderly into the cultivation of new smart health and elderly care industries; strengthen cross-departmental collaboration and policy integration to establish a long-term support system for promoting social adaptation among the elderly.