Beyond Chronological Age: Active Ageing Index, Social Class, and Economic Realities of Rural Karnataka, India.

Background: The country's ageing population, particularly in rural areas, presents growing public health and policy challenges. Gender-based disparities in socioeconomic domains further exacerbate vulnerabilities among the elderly. Assessing ageing through domains that incorporate local factors is essential for designing effective interventions.

Objectives: This study aimed to: (1) assess active ageing levels among rural older adults using a locally adapted Active Ageing Index (AAI) aligned with the WHO framework; (2) examine the association between AAI scores and sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, marital status, education, employment, and social class; and (3) explore gender-based disparities in economic and social security indicators-such as land ownership, income sufficiency, and pension access-that influence active ageing through secondary analysis.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 older adults in rural study area. The AAI was constructed using domain-based indicators across health, participation, and security, and categorised into Poor, Moderate, and Good levels. Associations with sociodemographic variables were assessed using Chi-square tests. For the third objective, gender differences in economic and security-related indicators were assessed through secondary analysis involving cross-tabulations and chi-square tests.

Results: Among the participants, 53.5% had Good AAI scores, 40.3% Moderate, and 6.2% Poor. A significant association was observed between AAI and social class (χ² = 7.02, p = .0306). Gender was not significantly associated with overall AAI categories; however, Secondary analysis of economic indicators within the Security domain revealed that women had lower land ownership, pension access, and income sufficiency compared to men.

Conclusion: Active Ageing Index was significantly associated with social class. While overall AAI scores did not differ significantly by gender, domain-level analysis demonstrated that socio-economic disadvantages place elderly women at greater risk of security. These results underscore the importance of gender-sensitive policies and interventions to strengthen the Security pillar of active ageing in rural India, ensuring equitable opportunities for all older adults.