Chinese General Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (21): 2959-2966.DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2025.0177

• Article • Previous Articles    

The Mediation Effect of Socioeconomic Status in Childhood Parental Literacy and Cognitive Function in Middle-aged and Older People: Based on Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study

  

  1. 1. Molecular Epidemiology Research Center, the Affiliated Guangzhou Twelfth People's Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510620, China
    2. Team of Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, Guangzhou Twelfth People's Hospital, Guangzhou 510620, China
  • Received:2025-06-24 Revised:2025-08-08 Published:2026-07-20 Online:2026-06-03
  • Contact: ZHANG Weisen

中老年人社会经济状况在少儿期父母文化与认知功能间的中介效应:基于广州生物库队列研究

  

  1. 1.510620 广东省广州市,广州医科大学附属市十二人民医院分子流行病学研究室
    2.510620 广东省广州市第十二人民医院广州生物库队列研究组
  • 通讯作者: 张维森
  • 作者简介:

    作者贡献:

    柴智浩负责数据清洗、分析,文章撰写与修改;张维森负责数据收集,提出研究思路,指导文章撰写并审阅修改,最终版本修订;罗娇玲负责数据分析与文章撰写;朱峰、朱彤、靳雅丽、潘静、卢映君、江朝强负责数据收集,对文章进行审阅修改。

  • 基金资助:
    国家重点研发计划(2017YFC0907105); 广东省医学科学技术研究基金项目(B2024194)

Abstract:

Background

Cognitive impairment is one of the serious risk factors leading to disability and death in the elderly. Some studies have found an association between parental literacy and cognitive function, but research on mediating role of socioeconomic status (SES) between the two is relatively scarce.

Objective

To examine the mediating role of SES between childhood parental literacy (CPL) and late-life cognitive function.

Methods

Based on the baseline data in phase 3 of Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS), 8 891 Guangzhou residents aged 50 and above were included. Data on general demographic characteristics, SES, lifestyle, CPL, health conditions, and cognitive function were collected. R 4.1.1 software was used to analyze the mediating effects of SES and its representative indicators (education, family income, and occupation) between CPL and cognitive function. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the associations among CPL, SES, and cognitive function. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the association between CPL and cognitive function, and logistic regression model was used to examine the associations of CPL with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild short-memory impairment (MMI).

Results

The prevalence of MCI among the study subjects was 12.60% (1 120/8 891). Correlation analysis showed that childhood parental literacy was positively correlated with SES (r=0.312, P<0.001), cognitive function (r=0.306, P<0.001), and short-term memory function (r=0.218, P<0.001) ; and SES was positively correlated with cognitive function (r=0.337, P<0.001) and short-term memory function (r=0.240, P<0.001). After adjustment for covariates, multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis showed that, compared with both parents couldn't read/write, only father/mother could read/write and both parents could read/write were associated with higher cognitive function [β(95%CI)=1.00 (0.84-1.14), 1.46 (1.30-1.62)] and short-term memory function [β(95%CI)=0.44 (0.33-0.56), 0.64 (0.52-0.77)] (P<0.001), and the risks of MCI [OR (95%CI)=0.48 (0.41-0.57), 0.27 (0.22-0.34)] and MMI [OR (95%CI)=0.65 (0.56-0.74), 0.50 (0.43-0.59)] (P<0.001) were lower, the increases and decreases exhibit a certain trend (Ptrend<0.001). The proportions of the mediating effects of SES and its representative indicators (education, family income, and occupation) between CPL and cognitive function were 21.77% (18.79%-24.77%), 18.44% (15.49%-21.50%), 6.56% (5.08%-8.24%) and 6.67% (5.07%-8.34%), respectively, and were 25.51% (21.10%-30.61%), 23.65% (19.25%-29.03%), 7.03% (5.14%-9.85%) and 7.02% (4.74%-9.68%), respectively, between CPL and short-term memory function.

Conclusion

SES, mainly education, may partially mediate the association between CPL and cognitive function. Strengthening early education and SES (especially education) could help delay and prevent the occurrence of cognitive impairment in middle and old age.

Key words: Cognitive function, Childhood parental literacy, Socioeconomic status, Middle-aged and older people, Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, Mediation effects

摘要:

背景

目前认知障碍已成为导致老年人失能和死亡的危险因素之一,有研究发现父母文化与认知功能存在相关性,而关于社会经济状况(SES)在两者之间中介作用的研究相对较少。

目的

探讨SES在少儿期父母文化(CPL)与中老年认知功能间的中介作用。

方法

数据来源于广州生物库队列研究(GBCS)第3期基线数据,选取招募的8 891名≥50岁广州居民为研究对象,问卷收集研究对象的一般人口特征、SES、生活方式、CPL、健康状况和认知功能等数据。通过Pearson相关性分析探究CPL、SES、认知功能之间的相关性。采用多因素线性回归模型分析探讨CPL与认知功能的相关性,采用Logistic回归模型分析探讨CPL与轻度认知障碍(MCI)及轻度短期记忆障碍(MMI)的相关性。采用R 4.1.1软件分析SES及各代表指标(文化程度、家庭年收入、职业)在CPL与认知功能间的中介效应。

结果

研究对象MCI患病率为12.60%(1 120/8 891)。相关性分析结果显示,少儿期父母识/写字与SES(r=0.312,P<0.001)、认知功能(r=0.306,P<0.001)和短期记忆功能(r=0.218,P<0.001)均呈正相关;SES与认知功能(r=0.337,P<0.001)和短期记忆功能(r=0.240,P<0.001)也呈正相关。多因素线性回归、Logistic回归分析结果显示,调整相关变量后与父母均不识/写字组比,父或母识/写字组和父母均识/写字组的认知功能[β(95%CI)=1.00(0.84~1.14)、1.46(1.30~1.62)]、短期记忆功能[β(95%CI)=0.44(0.33~0.56)、0.64(0.52~0.77)]更高(P<0.001),患MCI[OR(95%CI)=0.48(0.41~0.57)、0.27(0.22~0.34)]、MMI[OR(95%CI)=0.65(0.56~0.74)、0.50(0.43~0.59)]的风险降低(P<0.001),且升高和降低存在一定的趋势性(P趋势<0.001)。SES及各代表指标文化程度、家庭年收入和职业在CPL与认知功能间的中介效应占比分别为21.77%(18.79%~24.77%)、18.44%(15.49%~21.50%)、6.56%(5.08%~8.24%)和6.67%(5.07%~8.34%),在CPL与短期记忆功能间的中介效应占比分别为25.51%(21.10%~30.61%)、23.65%(19.25%~29.03%)、7.03%(5.14%~9.85%)和7.02%(4.74%~9.68%)。

结论

SES尤其是文化程度可能部分介导CPL与认知功能的相关性,强化早期教育和提升SES尤其是文化程度将有助于延缓和预防中老年人认知障碍的发生。

关键词: 认知功能, 少儿期父母文化, 社会经济状况, 中老年人, 广州生物库队列研究, 中介效应

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