Since untreated or undertreated late-life mental disorders is associated with grave consequences including poor quality of life and increased mortality rates, this study investigates the associated factors of psychiatric disorders and its treatment seeking among older adults in India. Data for this study were derived from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) conducted during 2017–2018. The effective sample size was 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to present the preliminary results. Chi-square test was used to find the significance level for bivariate association. Additionally, the Heckprobit selection model was employed to fulfil the objectives. It was revealed that about 2.8% of older adults had psychiatric disorder and of those who were suffering from psychiatric disorder, 41.3% (out of 2.8%) sought medical treatment. It was found that older adults who ever worked but currently not working, who had low level of life satisfaction, had poor self-rated health, had difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL and had symptoms of psychological distress had higher probability of suffering from psychiatric disorder in reference to their counterparts. Older adults from oldest-old age group, who were females, from poorest wealth quintile, from Scheduled Tribe and from eastern region had lower probability of seeking treatment for psychiatric disorder in reference to their counterparts. The findings of the present study urge that greater attention be devoted at detecting and preventing late-life psychiatric disorder particularly among those who are at greater risk vis., male gender, working status as “ever worked but currently not working”, having low life satisfaction, poor SRH, ADL and IADL difficulties, higher psychological distress, belonging to higher wealth quintile and rural place of residence.

Background Household headship with decision-making power may have a positive influence on life satisfaction in older adults. This study examines the associations of several types of household headship with life satisfaction among older adults in India. Method The study utilized the data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (2017–18). The effective sample size for the study was 31,464 adults aged 60 years or older. Ordered logistic regression model was employed to find the association of life satisfaction with household headship status after adjusting for selected socioeconomic and demographic factors. Results It was found that about 1.3% of older male and 1.5% of older females had nominal headship status in their household. Higher percentage of older males (42%) and females (48.3%) who had nominal headship status had low life satisfaction. In multivariable analysis, older adults who practiced nominal headship had significantly higher odds of low life satisfaction in reference to older adults who practiced functional headship [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.87; confidence interval (CI): 1.45,2.42]. Interaction model reveals that older men who practised nominal headship had significantly higher odds of low life satisfaction in reference to older men who practised functional headship [AOR: 2.34; CI: 1.59,3.45]. Similarly, older women who practised nominal headship had 55% significantly higher likelihood to have low life satisfaction in reference to older men who practised functional headship [AOR: 1.55; CI: 1.09, 2.18]. Conclusion The recognition of older individuals as active agents of the households they belong to, and giving them the value they deserve may help boosting their mental well-being. As a direct driver of subjective well-being, headship status and decision making power deserve a more prominent role and future studies are required on the mechanisms of functional and nominal headship statuses that have impact on successful aging.

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine the associations of several indicators of food insecurity with depression among older adults in India.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted using country-representative survey data.Setting and participantsThe present study uses data of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India conducted during 2017–2018. The effective sample size for the present study was 31 464 older adults aged 60 years and above.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe outcome variable was major depression among older adults. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate analysis was presented. Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis was used to establish the association between the depression and food security factors along with other covariates.ResultsThe overall prevalence of major depression was 8.4% among older adults in India. A proportion of 6.3% of the older adults reduced the size of meals, 40% reported that they did not eat enough food of their choice, 5.6% mentioned that they were hungry but did not eat, 4.2% reported that they did not eat for a whole day and 5.6% think that they have lost weight due to lack of enough food in the household. Older adults who reported to have reduced the size of meals due to lack of enough food (adjusted OR (AOR): 1.76, CI 1.44 to 2.15) were hungry but did not eat (AOR: 1.35, CI 1.06 to 1.72) did not eat food for a whole day (AOR: 1.33; CI 1.03 to 1.71), lost weight due to lack of food (AOR: 1.57; CI 1.30 to1.89) had higher odds of being depressed in reference to their respective counterparts.ConclusionThe findings suggest that self-reported food insecurity indicators were strongly associated with major depression among older Indian adults. The national food security programmes should be enhanced as an effort to improve mental health status and quality of life among older population.

Objectives This study empirically examines the association of migration of an adult male child (ren) on the mental health of the older parents left behind. It also examines the interaction effects of sex of older parents and male child migration on major depression to explore whether there is a gender differential in the possible association. Methods The data for this study were obtained from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017–2018). The total sample size for the present study was 27,248 older adults aged 60 years and above (male‐12,624; female‐14,624). Descriptive statistics along with cross‐tabulation were presented. Proportion test was used to evaluate the significance level of differences in depression by sex. Additionally, binary logistic regression analysis was used to find out the associations. Major depression with symptoms of dysphoria, was calculated using the Short‐Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI‐SF). Results About 10.5% and 9.0% of older males and females had migrant sons. It was found that there was significant gender differential in depression in older age (male: 7.5% and female: 9.7%; p < 0.001). It was further found that the prevalence of depression was found among older men (9.3% vs. 7.3%) and women (12.5% vs. 9.4%) with migrant son. Older adults with migrant son had 26% significantly higher likelihood to be depressed in reference to older adults with non‐migrant son (AOR: 1.26; CI: 1.02–1.56). Further, older women with a migrant son had 76% significantly higher likelihood to be depressed in reference to older men with migrant son (AOR: 1.76; CI: 1.32–2.39). Conclusions This study invites policymakers' attention towards migration of adult children and its potential effects on mental health of left‐behind older parents in community‐settings and in women in particular. Policies should focus on spreading awareness to migrant children of older adults on maintaining frequent contacts and visits to their ageing parents.

Background This study explored the factors associated with daily spiritual experiences of older adults and the association of daily spiritual experiences with major depressive disorder among older Indian adults. Methods Data for this study were derived from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) wave‐1. The sample size was 31 464 older adults age 60 years and above. Daily spiritual experience was assessed from four items (Cronbach's alpha: 0.89) adapted from the daily spiritual experience scale (DSES). Major depressive disorder was calculated using the Short Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI‐SF). Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable forward stepwise logistic regression analyses were conducted to fulfil the objectives of the study. Results A proportion of 87.46% of older adults reported daily spiritual experiences in the study. Women had higher odds of spiritual experiences than men (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.243; confidence interval (CI): 1.041–1.484). Older adults with higher education, those who were retired, those who reported community involvement or were physically active or belonged to the richest wealth quintile had higher odds of having daily spiritual experiences in comparison to older adults from the poorest wealth quintile. Further, older adults with daily spiritual experiences had significantly lower odds of major depressive disorder (aOR: 0.810; CI: 0.681–0.964) than older adults who did not report daily spiritual experiences. Conclusion The study suggests that daily spiritual practices can be a strategy to reduce major depressive symptoms and improve mental health and wellbeing of older adults, and future studies are warranted on this direction.