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Background <p>Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally and represent major public health challenges. The impact of early-life famine exposure on mental health has increasingly drawn attention. However, research on the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood, especially across different ethnic backgrounds, remains scarce in worldwide.</p> Methods <p>The study is based on the baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC), and includes 18,376 individuals who were born between 1939 and 1978 and experienced early life famine exposure. All participants underwent face-to-face interviews and physical examinations, and their anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scales. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood.</p> Results <p>The study revealed that exposure to famine during childhood (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.33–2.05, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and adolescence (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.18–2.28, <i>p</i> = 0.003) was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in adulthood, especially among females ( childhood OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.47–2.39, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001; adolescence OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.36–2.81, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). In the Han ethnic group, childhood famine exposure (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.44–2.56, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms in later life. In the Yi ethnic group, fetal exposure to famine was associated with an increased risk of both depressive symptoms (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.28–4.25, <i>p</i> = 0.005) and anxiety symptoms in adulthood (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), whereas no associations were observed in the Bai ethnic group. Regarding anxiety symptoms, males exposed to famine during childhood (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.85, <i>p</i> = 0.008) and adolescence (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.78, <i>p</i> = 0.013) had a lower risk of developing anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Among the Yi population, fetal famine exposure was associated with a higher risk of adult anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001).</p> Conclusion <p>Famine exposure during childhood and adolescence is associated with altered risks of mental health disorders in adulthood, with patterns varying across ethnic groups. Early-life nutritional deprivation may exert long-term effects on mental health, and these associations appear to differ by gender and ethnicity.</p>

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Early-Life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood: evidence from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC)

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月10日

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  • Hua Bai,
  • Yandaijiu Wang,
  • Yuhan Liu,
  • Yuemei Feng,
  • Yanjiao Wang,
  • Fei Mi,
  • Wei Zou,
  • Junyi Liu,
  • Xuehui Zhang,
  • Qiong Meng

摘要

Background

Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally and represent major public health challenges. The impact of early-life famine exposure on mental health has increasingly drawn attention. However, research on the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood, especially across different ethnic backgrounds, remains scarce in worldwide.

Methods

The study is based on the baseline data from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC), and includes 18,376 individuals who were born between 1939 and 1978 and experienced early life famine exposure. All participants underwent face-to-face interviews and physical examinations, and their anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-2 and GAD-2 scales. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between early-life famine exposure and the risk of depression and anxiety in adulthood.

Results

The study revealed that exposure to famine during childhood (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.33–2.05, p < 0.001) and adolescence (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.18–2.28, p = 0.003) was associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in adulthood, especially among females ( childhood OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.47–2.39, p < 0.001; adolescence OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.36–2.81, p < 0.001). In the Han ethnic group, childhood famine exposure (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.44–2.56, p < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms in later life. In the Yi ethnic group, fetal exposure to famine was associated with an increased risk of both depressive symptoms (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.28–4.25, p = 0.005) and anxiety symptoms in adulthood (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, p < 0.001), whereas no associations were observed in the Bai ethnic group. Regarding anxiety symptoms, males exposed to famine during childhood (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.33–0.85, p = 0.008) and adolescence (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.13–0.78, p = 0.013) had a lower risk of developing anxiety symptoms in adulthood. Among the Yi population, fetal famine exposure was associated with a higher risk of adult anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.37–2.88, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Famine exposure during childhood and adolescence is associated with altered risks of mental health disorders in adulthood, with patterns varying across ethnic groups. Early-life nutritional deprivation may exert long-term effects on mental health, and these associations appear to differ by gender and ethnicity.