Life-course adversity linked to poorer mental health, especially among women

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of Wave 3 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. They counted exposure to 22 adverse life events across participants’ lives and created a total accumulation score, plus separate scores for self-oriented and other-oriented events. Logistic and linear regression models assessed associations with depressive symptomatology, life satisfaction and quality of life, including interactions with gender.

Greater accumulation of adverse events was associated with a higher likelihood of depressive symptomatology, lower life satisfaction and reduced quality of life. Gender moderated the associations for the total accumulation score, with women showing greater vulnerability. Gender interactions for the self-oriented and other-oriented scores were not consistent, although trends for other-oriented events were in line with the total-score pattern.

The findings indicate an association, not that accumulated adversity causes poorer outcomes. The source does not report the sample size or effect estimates in the supplied text, limiting assessment of the magnitude and precision of the associations. The results do not establish a specific clinical intervention or change in practice.