Role of intergenerational connections in cognitive aging: Evidence from a Chinese longitudinal study

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults (45–60 years and over 60 years, respectively) and analyze the urban–rural and sex differences in the effects of intergenerational connections on cognitive function.MethodBased on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study data (CHARLS), this study conducted ID matching for four waves of data from 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018. Cognitive function was measured via Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m), word recall, and imitation drawing. Using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal research, we constructed the cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) with a sample of 1,480 participants to explore the relationship between intergenerational connections and cognitive function.ResultsThis study examines the impact of intergenerational connections on cognitive function in middle-aged (45–60 years) and older adults (over 60 years) using data from the CHARLS. It identifies urban–rural and sex differences, with notable effects among rural female participants. The frequency of meeting with one child negatively predicts cognitive function (β = −0.040, p = 0.041), and the frequency of communication with one child positively predicts cognitive function (β = 0.102, 0.068, 0.041, p