Does the Migration Status of Children Affect Mental Health of Elderly?  a Study Based on Middle Ganga Plain Region in India.

R S, Reshmi

In the changing demographic scenario, as the population ageing in India is surging, their mental and emotional well-being are challenging public health concerns. Previous studies have shown that the elderly, because of increased isolation, reduced functionalities, and other co-morbidities, face increased issues of mental health.This study attempts to understand the emotional and mental health of the elderly whose children are migrants, residing in the Middle Ganga Plain, a region known for high male out-migration.

This study utilises data from the Middle Ganga Plain (MGP) migration survey conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Govt. of India in 2021. The effective sample size of this study is 1080 elderly population; among them 640 elderly are left behind. The survey collected information to measure mental health status based on 15 items of previously well-established internationally validated scales like CES-D and CIDI-SF. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted to understand the association of mental health among the elderly across several socio-demographic characteristics. Bivariate Logistic regression was employed to understand the adjusted and unadjusted effects of the other potential covariates.

The study findings show that the overall health status among the elderly, those who are left behind, is comparatively better than the non-left behind. Further, depression and loneliness are higher among the elderly, those whose children have migrated, as compared to those whose children are non-migrants. Our findings also suggest that females, widowed, not engaged in activities, and not satisfied with their lives were more susceptible to depression. However, interestingly, those elderly who frequently communicate with their children or other friends were reported to have a lower risk of having depression. This study provides valuable insights into the mental health status among the elderly population in a high-migrating region in India and suggests targeted policy intervention.