Assessing the Well-Being of India's Elderly:Applying Amartya Sen's Capability Approach

Association of self-perceived income status with psychological distress and subjective well-being: a cross-sectional study among older adults in India

“…The positive association of increasing age with poor mental health is in parallel with findings in India showing the increased age as a major predictor of late-life depression [ 76 ]. Also, considering the poor well-being score among male older population, the grim scenario of gender disparity in later life is evident, thus throwing light on the male disadvantage in mental health and the cultural paradox that persist in India [ 25 ], and more investigation is warranted in this regard. Furthermore, our analysis is also in consistence with the finding that psychological health may also be affected by different factors for older individuals who are from households in which poverty is more common than for individuals from households with more assets and higher incomes [ 77 ].…”

“…Moreover, resources such as income and assets accumulate over time; whereas, role-related deprivations could lead older adults to feel unfit in the family and ultimately to their cumulative disadvantages and increased psychological distress [22][23][24]. According to one study [25], well-being declines by increasing age and the situation is particularly worse for the oldest old segment and females tend to have a lesser well-being score as compared with males. Similarly, the lack of inheritance rights and property, and insufficient incomes and earnings expose older widows to deprivation and social isolation [26], resulting in a poor late-life mental health status.…”