The association between childhood exposure to inter-parental violence and depression in middle-aged and older adults: an empirical analysis from China

Background The association between exposure to inter-parental violence (IPV) and depression remains to be further explored. This study aimed to explore the association between childhood exposure to IPV and depression in middle-aged and older adults, and to explore the mediating roles between the two. Methods Using data from the 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and the 2014 Life History Survey Questionnaire. Generalized estimating equation was used to investigate the relationship between childhood exposure to IPV and depression in middle-aged and older adults, the bootstrap method was used to analyse the mediating roles between the two, and multi-group analysis was used to examine the gender differences in their relationship. Results A total of 9,909 sample were included in the study. This study found 18.6% of the sample exposure to IPV in childhood. IPV was positively associated with depression (β = 0.804,95%CI: 0.592,1.015), father-to-mother violence was positively associated with depression (β = 0.777,95%CI: 0.564,0.991), mother-to-father violence was positively associated with depression (β = 0.796,95%CI: 0.434,1.157), and father-and-mother violence was positively associated with depression (β = 0.731,95%CI: 0.351,1.112). IPV and depression may operate partly through smoking and drinking. The association between IPV and depression ( P = 0.017), and between father-to-mother violence and depression ( P = 0.023), were both weaker among males than among females. Conclusion Childhood exposure to IPV was positively associated with depression in middle-aged and older adults. The association between IPV and depression may operate partly through smoking and drinking. The associations between IPV and depression, and between father-to-mother violence and depression, were stronger among female respondents. There is a need to pay attention to depression among those who exposure to IPV in childhood.