Determinants of self-reported health status: evidence from countrywide surveys of older adults in India

Bakshi, Sanjeev (2010): Determinants of self-reported health status: evidence from countrywide surveys of older adults in India. Published in: IER Journal of Health and Demography , Vol. 6, No. 2 (January 2021): pp. 1-14.

Abstract

The present study investigates the socioeconomic factors associated with the SRH for the older adults in India. Data of the 52nd and the 60th round of the National Sample Survey have been made use of for this purpose. The present study models the SRH (from a global perspective), measured on a 3-point ordinal scale, for its association with the immediate socioeconomic environment of the older adults. An ordinal logit regression model is utilized for the purpose. The immediate socioeconomic environment of an older adult consists of the living arrangements, the financial dependence, the marital status and the economic status of the household. Further, these associations have been studied after controlling for the objective measures of health, namely, the physical health and the relative perception of health status. The results indicate that the objective measures of health and the relative change in the state of health during past one year contribute maximum to the information on the perception of the present state of health. Although the information provided by the immediate socioeconomic environment is lesser, it is not insignificant. SRH was found better for more educated older adults. The financial dependence and poor status of the household reduce the chances of better SRH. On the other hand, co-residence enhances the chances of better SRH. The older adults in rural areas are less likely to perceive a better health status when compared to their urban counterparts.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: ageing, India, National Sample Survey, older adults, self–reported health, social determinants of health
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Behavior

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