Analysing the role of Self-rated health on the influence of physical and mental health on life satisfaction among older adults in India: A Mediation Approach

Bandita Boro, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Bhaswati Das, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Nandita Saikia, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Background This study aims to examine the mediating role of self-rated health in the relationship between physical (chronic diseases and functional limitation) and mental health (depressive symptoms) and life satisfaction among older adults in India. Methods The national representative sample for older adults 45 and above (63,576) from the Longitudinal Ageing Survey of India, Wave-1 (2017-18) was considered for the analysis. Multinomial logistic regression and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) were used to examine the mediation effect of self-rated health on the relationship between functional limitation, chronic diseases and depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Results The mediation analysis indicated that chronic diseases had no significant association with life satisfaction, while both functional limitation and depressive symptoms had direct as well as indirect effects via self-rated life satisfaction. Conclusion The findings of this study imply that self-rated health is important in understanding an older person’s quality of life and well-being.

Keywords: Population Ageing, Longitudinal studies , Health and Morbidity, Older Adults and Intergenerational Relations

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