Unpacking the Specific Associations Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depressive Symptoms among the Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese Populations: A Dimensional Approach and Latent Class Analysis in a Cohort Study

Individuals who have experienced higher ACE scores in early life face a higher risk of developing a new occurrence of DSs and multiple detected DSs in mid to late life, particularly in the case of threat-related ACEs. Parsing ACEs is imperative to explore their distinct effects on DSs and the underlying mechanisms. In addition, Incorporating ACE screening into regular health checks among the middle-aged and elderly populations is recommended. Moreover, targeted mental health interventions should be delivered to those who have experienced early life adversities, particularly threat-related ACEs, to promote healthy aging.