Research Bulletin
Vol.3 Issue 8 | August 2024
Aging in India: Intersectionality, Well-being, and Access to Care.
“The Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS) research bulletin presents an overview of recent research published by the faculty and research scholars at JIBS organised under different themes.”
Recent Publications
Dr. Vasundharaa S Nair
Intersectionality and cumulative disadvantage in access to healthcare for older adults in India. (In Handbook of Aging, Health and Public Policy (pp. 1–26). Springer Nature Singapore.)
As the aging phenomenon sweeps across India and calls for creating supportive structures for enabling healthy aging and productive aging for senior citizens reverberate, the importance of studying age as an element of intersectionality and cumulative disadvantage that results in disparities in healthcare access to older adults is underlined. This chapter reviews intersectionality – its basis, origin, elaboration, and implications that result in cumulative disadvantage for older adults’ access and utilization of healthcare in India. Based on the perspectives that emanate in this body of work, the chapter offers a synthesized review on cumulative disadvantage and intersectionality and provides directions for future research as well as suggestive public policy recommendations for reducing disparity and disadvantages for older adults in accessing and utilizing healthcare. Read More…
Dr Shilpa Bandyopadhyay
Assistant Professor &
Assistant Dean, Training & Capacity Building
Visit Her Faculty Profile
Aging in contemporary India: A qualitative inquiry (Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 1–29)
India’s growing older population has sparked concerns about their well-being. Although highlighting the ageing experience of older Indians is crucial, their voices are largely underrepresented in academic scholarship. This study addresses this gap by exploring their ageing experience, views on old age, and perceived need for government support during old age. Data was collected from sixty-three older community-dwellers and old age home residents through interviews and mini focus group discussions. Reflexive thematic analysis of their ageing perception and experience highlighted aspects such as the ageing body, psychological gains and social losses, need for affiliation, distraction and anticipation, and ageing as a time for religious and spiritual devotion. Read More…
Happiness and Well-Being in Old Age. (In: Singh, K., Saxena, G. (eds) Religious and Spiritual Practices in India. Springer, Singapore)
The 21st century focus has shifted from ‘how long will I live’ to ‘if I am going to live a long time, how can I be happy in the process?’ This chapter explores this question within the Indian context, presenting findings from a qualitative on 56 older Indians examining their sources of happiness and unhappiness. Reflexive thematic analysis showed that happiness and its determinants were largely construed by older adults in terms of interpersonal ties. Additionally, engaging in prayer, chants/sacred mantras, worship, devotion to God or one’s spiritual guru, and attending religious/spiritual functions contributed to their happiness. While there is a substantial body of literature on various age-related declines, studies such as the present one help readjust the balance by highlighting ways to enhance happiness in old age. Read More…
Faculty Coordinators: Ms. Bhavya Tandon