Intersectional Effects of Gender, Education, and Geographic Region on Functional Health Disparities Among Older Adults in India

Abstract

Objective: Research on social determinants of health in India has focused largely on the independent influence of education, gender, and region. Using an intersectionality framework in this study, we examine the combined effects of these three key social locators on the critical, yet underexamined outcome of later life functional health. Method: We use data from Wave 1 (2007–2010) of the Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) ( N = 7,150) to examine whether the effects of education on functional limitations differ by gender in six highly heterogenous regions of India. Results: The effects of education on functional limitations were significantly greater (β = .026, p < .001) for men than women. Consistent with established regional differences in economic development, cultural practices, and political context, this relationship varied across locales. Discussion: Our findings highlight the need to move beyond independent sources of heterogeneity in examining later life functional health in the global South.

Assessment of Racial Disparities in Mortality Rates Among Older Adults Living in US Rural vs Urban Counties From 1968 to 2016

“…For example, understanding the age, sex, racial, and geographic factors associated with better health outcomes can provide the information needed to tailor strategies at the policy, organization, practitioner, and individual levels in the service of improving health equity. 28 , 29 , 30 …”

Functional Disability Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: The Intersecting Roles of Ethnicity, Social Class, and Urban/Rural Residency

“…As such, intersectionality theory has much to offer to aging research because it unpacks various minority struggles that are often obscured in the traditional approach ( Kapilashrami & Hankivsky, 2018 ). While a growing body of western literature has adopted the intersectionality framework to understand health inequalities ( Roy et al, 2020 ; Warner & Brown, 2011 ), little is known about the utility of this theory in the Chinese context. Transferring the intersectionality lens to the Chinese populations could illuminate the compounding effects of multiple inequities to understand the experience of systemic oppression among older persons in non-Western societies.…”

The Challenges of Intersectionality in the Lives of Older Adults Living in Rural Areas with Limited Financial Resources

“…Rurality Roy et al (2020) conducted research on late life functional limitations including the intersecting categories of gender, education, and geography. Their research found an individual's geographic location is considered a category for either advantage or disadvantage in intersectionality.…”

“…Intersectionality has explored relative socioeconomic status and other statuses (Brown et al, 2016) and geographic location (Roy et al, 2020). Calasanti and Giles (2017) added a life course perspective to the discussion of intersectionality.…”