Migration of adult male children and associated depression among community‐dwelling older parents: A cross‐sectional gender analysis from Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017–2018

Abstract

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.

Examining factors contributing to the socioeconomic inequalities in handgrip strength among older adults in India: a decomposition analysis

“…Age was categorized into the groups of 60–69 years, 70–79 years, and 80+ years; living arrangement was recoded as living alone, living with spouse, living with children and living with others; marital status was recoded as currently married, widowed and others (others included divorced/separated/never married) 51 ; work status was recoded as never worked, currently working, currently not working and retired 52 .…”

A positive correlation between daily spiritual practice and reduced depressive symptoms among older adults: evidence from a nationally representative survey among the Indian population

“…Socio‐demographic variables in the study included age, recoded as 60–69, 70–79 and 80+ years; gender was available as male and female; educational status, recoded as no education, primary, 6–10 years, and 11 years and above as secondary/higher; marital status, recoded as not in union which included never married, divorced, separated and widowed, and currently in union; working status (in the last 1 year), recoded as never worked, not working, working and retired; living arrangement, recoded as alone, with spouse and with children and others 47 …”

“…33,46 Explanatory variables Socio-demographic variables in the study included age, recoded as 60-69, 70-79 and 80+ years; gender was available as male and female; educational status, recoded as no education, primary, 6-10 years, and 11 years and above as secondary/ higher; marital status, recoded as not in union which included never married, divorced, separated and widowed, and currently in union; working status (in the last 1 year), recoded as never worked, not working, working and retired; living arrangement, recoded as alone, with spouse and with children and others. 47 Several mediating factors were selected according to the previous literature. [48][49][50] They include: community involvement, recoded as no representing 'no community involvement' and yes 'having community involvement'; self-rated health, recoded as 'good' which included very good, good and fair and 'poor' included poor and very poor; ability to do activities of daily living (ADL), having a scale of zero to six where higher score represents greater difficulties, and a score of six represents completely dependent and zero represents completely independent to do ADL, recoded as zero, one, two, and three+ representing the number of functional difficulties; ability to do instrumental ADL (IADL) had a scale of zero to seven with higher scores representing greater difficulties, recoded as zero, one, two, and three+ representing the number of functional difficulties.…”

Relationship between handgrip strength, depression and cognitive functioning among older adults: Evidence from longitudinal ageing study in India

“…Based on the previously reported association with outcome variables, [40][41][42][43] several mediators/moderators were selected and included in the analysis. Self-rated health (SRH) was available on a scale of five which represents very good, good, fair, poor and very poor.…”