Unequal Burden: Gender Disparities in the Effect of Household Air Pollution on Mental Health Among Older Adults in India

Ritu Rani, International Institute For Population Sciences
Géraldine Duthé, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)
Arokiasamy Perianayagam, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

India's aging population is facing increasing mental health challenges, with depression and cognitive decline emerging as major public health concerns. Older adults, particularly women, are more vulnerable due to gender-specific social and biological factors. In this context, household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use presents an additional health risk, particularly for women, who are predominantly responsible for cooking in India. While existing literature has established the link between outdoor air pollution and health, the effect of HAP on mental health, especially its gendered effects, remains less explored. This study addresses this gap by examining the association between HAP from solid fuel use and mental health outcomes—cognitive function and depression—among older adults (N=30,001, 60+ years) in India. Using nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, our findings reveal significant gender disparities. Women exposed to solid fuel use showing greater cognitive decline (ß = -1.81, 95% CI: -2.07, -1.56, p<0.001) and higher odds of depression (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.31, 1.89, p<0.001) compared to men. These findings emphasize the heightened vulnerability of older women to HAP, reinforcing the need for gender-sensitive interventions to address the health effects of solid fuel use in India’s aging population.

Keywords: Population Ageing, Population, Environment, and Climate Change, Health and Morbidity

See extended abstract.