Association between Neighborhood Deprivation and Social Cohesion among Indian Older Adults: New Evidence from LASI

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and social cohesion among older individuals in India. The research used data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India Wave-1 (2017–18), which included a substantial sample of 31,646 older adults. Bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the association between neighborhood deprivation and social cohesion while accounting for potential confounders. The results indicate that 60.69% of older adults in India reported high social cohesion. Among the participants, 47% of those with low neighborhood deprivation reported high social cohesion. Married older adults reported higher social cohesion (59.9%) compared to widowed individuals (52.4%). Additionally, older adults living in urban areas had higher odds of reporting high social cohesion (aOR: 1.19; CI: 1.11–1.27) compared to those in rural areas. Interestingly, older adults living alone had lower odds of high social cohesion than those living with others (aOR: 0.74; CI: 0.63–0.86). Regional differences were also observed. Older adults residing in the West (aOR: 1.75; CI: 1.59–1.93), North-East (aOR: 1.45; CI: 1.30–1.61), and South (aOR: 1.19; CI: 1.09–1.29) regions of India had higher odds of high social cohesion compared to those in the Northern region. This study provides valuable insights into the determinants of social cohesion among older individuals in India. It highlights the interconnected nature of economic, demographic, and health-related factors in shaping social bonds.