Childhood disadvantage, education, and psychological distress in adulthood: A three-wave population-based study

Abstract

Background: We assessed the mediating role of education in the association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood using longitudinal data collected in three waves, from 1994 to 2008, in the framework of the Tromsø Study (N = 4530), a cohort that is representative of men and women from Tromsø.

Methods: Education was measured at a mean age of 54.7 years, and psychological distress in adulthood was measured at a mean age of 61.7 years. Ordinary least square regression analysis was used to assess the associations between childhood disadvantage, education, and psychological distress in adulthood. The indirect effects and the proportion (%) of indirect effects of childhood disadvantage (via education) on psychological distress in adulthood were assessed by mediation analysis.

Results: Childhood disadvantage was associated with lower education and higher psychological distress in adulthood (p < 0.05). Lower education was associated with a higher psychological distress in adulthood (p < 0.05). A minor proportion (7.51%, p < 0.05) of the association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood was mediated by education.

Limitations: Childhood disadvantages were measured retrospectively.

Conclusion: The association between childhood disadvantage and psychological distress in adulthood is primarily independent of education.

Keywords: Anxiety; Childhood adversity; Depression; Emotional distress; Longitudinal; Psychological well-being; Social epidemiology; Socioeconomic position; Socioeconomic status.