Impact of Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital on the Mental Wellbeing and Life Satisfaction of Older Adults in Lucknow City, India

Anamika Singh, PhD Research Scholar
Esha Chatterjee, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

The present study aims to investigate the association between Bourdieu’s core forms of capital (economic, social, and cultural) and mental wellbeing and life satisfaction of older adults in India. Data was collected from Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh the most populous state of India using multistage cluster sampling design. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 410 respondents, aged 60 years and above. Multivariate logistic regression and ordered logistic regression were used to examine associations between different forms of capital and mental wellbeing and life satisfaction respectively. Results from the multivariate logistic regression with all controls and all measures of economic, social, and cultural capital show that greater levels of neighbourhood social support, education, and cultural engagement are associated with greater mental wellbeing. Results from multivariate ordered logistic regression with all controls and all measures of economic, social, and cultural capital show that higher economic capital, neighbourhood social support, and education are associated with greater life satisfaction in old age. This study highlights the importance of social support from indirect ties in the neighbourhood, greater levels of education, and greater engagement in activities such as book fairs, painting exhibitions, music performances, etc. in enhancing mental wellbeing of older adults.

Keywords: Population Ageing

See paper.