National Institute of Technology, Rourkela

राष्ट्रीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान, राउरकेला

ଜାତୀୟ ପ୍ରଯୁକ୍ତି ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠାନ ରାଉରକେଲା

An Institute of National Importance

Seminar Details

Seminar Title:
Children’s Education, Migration, and Coresidence: Paving the Path to Health and Well-being of the Indian Elderly
Seminar Type:
Synopsis Seminar
Department:
Humanities and Social Sciences
Speaker Name:
Binayak Kandapan ( Rollno : 518hs2017)
Speaker Type:
Student
Venue:
Conference Room, Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIT Rourkela
Date and Time:
22 Feb 2024 6.00 PM
Contact:
Prof. Jalandhar Pradhan
Abstract:

Inadequate social security provision, growing healthcare cost, deterioration in health and economic status forces the elderly to be dependent on their younger kin, primary their offspring. The traditional family dynamics in India historically served as the backbone of elderly care, are facing significant shifts due to western influence and migration of children. While there exists study on downward mobility of socioeconomic position from parents to children, very little is known on how the upward mobility from children to elderly parents is associated with the elderly&rsquos health and wellbeing. The study aims to address this gap by examining the multi-morbidity status, functional health, nutritional outcomes, and life satisfaction of elderly parents. Specifically, it investigates whether children&rsquos education, migration, and coresidence with their parents influence these outcomes. The data was extracted for 30,265 elderly aged 60+ from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017-18. It was found that, 25% of the elderly were multi-morbid and have at least one limitation in the ADL, 50% have at least one limitation in IADL. Increase in children&rsquos average years of schooling is associated with significantly lower rate of multiple limitation in the ADL (Incidence Rate Ratios [IRR]=0.984, p<0.05) and IADL (IRR=0.975, p<0.001) and lower odds of underweight (AOR=0.939, p<0.05). However, children&rsquos education is negatively associated with chronic diseases (IRR=1.035, p<0.05) and overweight (AOR=1.068, p<0.05). The association between children&rsquos migration and major depression among the elderly also statistically significant: empty nester (OR=1.83, p<0.001) and left behind (OR=1.5, p<0.001) were more likely to experience MDD. Compared to elderly living alone, those who were co-residing &lsquowith both spouse and children&rsquo were significantly more likely to report a higher level of Life satisfaction (RRR=3.15, p<0.001), followed by those who are living &lsquowith their spouse only&rsquo (RRR=2.76, p<0.001). In terms of multidimensional poverty (MDP), elderly whose children never went to school, whose none of the male children were coresiding were the most vulnerable. Elderly whose children&rsquos average years of schooling was 0-4 years were 28% less likely to experience MDP compared to those elderly whose child(ren) never went to school. This pattern holds true for average years of schooling of both son(s) and daughter(s). While migration status of son(s) seems to have impact on the MDP, no significant association was established for daughter(s)&rsquo migration status. Based on the son(s) characteristics, it was found thar the empty nester were 1.2 times (AOR=1.209, p<0.05) more likely to experience MDP.