Investigating the Association between Childhood Circumstances and Old Age Quality in Ghana

This chapter investigates the influence of childhood adversities on older adults’ health and ageing-related processes. A total of 300 individuals aged between 13 years and 60+ participated in the study. Data were collected utilising questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results showed that individuals who had experienced two or more childhood adversities were more likely to have poorer physical health and mental health functioning in older ages compared to those with no childhood adversities. These may predispose experiencers to detrimental health and other situational consequences. The findings show the direct influence of childhood experiences on later life especially from diverse dimensions including health. Quintessentially, childhood experiences of poverty, starvation, family disintegration, neglect, abandonment, abuse, etc., predispose experiencers to detrimental health and other situational consequences. A distinct interaction exists between childhood experiences and those of old age. The findings have implications for social acceptability for both children and older adults. These are suggestive of the fact that social policies aimed at promoting old age quality need to go beyond the stage of old age to targeting early childhood social conditions.