Ratna Patel
PhD Scholar
International Institute for Population Sciences
Mumbai
Shekhar Chauhan
PhD Scholar
International Institute for Population Sciences
Mumbai
Dinesh Chaurasiya
PhD Scholar
International Institute for Population Sciences
Mumbai
Sumit Kumar
PhD Scholar
Centre for study of Regional Development
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi
Balram Paswan
Professor and Head
Department of Population Policies & Programmes
International Institute for Population Sciences
Mumbai
Abstract
India has a significant proportion of the elderly population. Even though, many studies have been conducted to focus on the issue of the health of aged persons. But very few of them have drawn attention to the social capital of old persons. In this study, along with some health outcome, the social capital of the aged person is also taken to study.
The study based on data from the WHO study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) Wave 1 India. In India SAGE conducted in six states namely Assam, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Different socio-economic characteristics, health variables, cognitive functioning and physical activity were included in the study. Prevalence of different health outcome was shown by different socio-economic characteristics. To assessing Social capital, marital status, social action, sociability, trust and solidarity, safety, and civic engagement were included in model. For showing effect of different background factor and social capital factor logistic regression was performed.
The prevalence of Self-Rated good Health, Depression Symptoms, Physical inactivity and Cognitive functioning were 27.93, 9.21, 51.88 and 48.15 respectively. Increasing age had negative effect on self reported good health among older people. Depression symptoms were more likely to occur in rural people (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.12-1.83) than urban people. Females were more likely to have low level of cognitive functioning among older.
There must be new policy implication by considering social capital and well-being of older adults in India. By virtue of that the negative effect of different social capital factor can be removed.
Key words: Social Capital, Self-reported Health, Depressive Symptoms, Cognitive Functioning, Physical Inactivity, Older Adults, India, WHO SAGE.
