Abstract
Since untreated or undertreated late-life mental disorders is associated with grave consequences including poor quality of life and increased mortality rates, this study investigates the associated factors of psychiatric disorders and its treatment seeking among older adults in India. Data for this study were derived from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) conducted during 2017–2018. The effective sample size was 31,464 older adults aged 60 years and above. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to present the preliminary results. Chi-square test was used to find the significance level for bivariate association. Additionally, the Heckprobit selection model was employed to fulfil the objectives. It was revealed that about 2.8% of older adults had psychiatric disorder and of those who were suffering from psychiatric disorder, 41.3% (out of 2.8%) sought medical treatment. It was found that older adults who ever worked but currently not working, who had low level of life satisfaction, had poor self-rated health, had difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL and had symptoms of psychological distress had higher probability of suffering from psychiatric disorder in reference to their counterparts. Older adults from oldest-old age group, who were females, from poorest wealth quintile, from Scheduled Tribe and from eastern region had lower probability of seeking treatment for psychiatric disorder in reference to their counterparts. The findings of the present study urge that greater attention be devoted at detecting and preventing late-life psychiatric disorder particularly among those who are at greater risk vis., male gender, working status as “ever worked but currently not working”, having low life satisfaction, poor SRH, ADL and IADL difficulties, higher psychological distress, belonging to higher wealth quintile and rural place of residence.
Highlights
Background factors Individual factors Age groupYoung-old Old-old Oldest-old Sex Male Female Education status No education/primary not completed Primary completed Secondary completed Higher and above Living arrangements Alone With spouse With children Others Marital status Currently married Widowed Others Working status Working Ever worked but currently not working Not working Distance from health facility Not remote Remote Missing Social participation No Yes Life satisfaction Low Medium High Health factors Self-rated health Good Poor Difficulty in activities of daily living (ADL) No Yes Difficulty in IADL No Yes Psychological distress Low Medium High Household factors monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) index Poorest Poorer Middle ContinuedSample Percentage
The older adults from rural place of residence were 0.09 times significantly less likely to suffer from psychiatric disorder in reference to the older adults who were from urban place of residence [Coef: − 0.09; confidence interval (CI) − 0.17, − 0.01]
The findings of the present study urge that greater attention be devoted at detecting and preventing late-life psychiatric disorder among those who are at greater risk vis., male gender, working status as “ever worked but currently not working”, having low life satisfaction, poor SRH, ADL and IADL difficulties, higher psychological distress, belonging to higher wealth quintile and rural place of residence
Summary
Background factors Individual factors Age groupYoung-old Old-old Oldest-old Sex Male Female Education status No education/primary not completed Primary completed Secondary completed Higher and above Living arrangements Alone With spouse With children Others Marital status Currently married Widowed Others Working status Working Ever worked but currently not working Not working Distance from health facility Not remote Remote Missing Social participation No Yes Life satisfaction Low Medium High Health factors Self-rated health Good Poor Difficulty in ADL No Yes Difficulty in IADL No Yes Psychological distress Low Medium High Household factors MPCE index Poorest Poorer Middle ContinuedSample Percentage. Hindu Muslim Christian Others Caste Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Other Backward Class Others Place of residence Rural Urban Region North Central East Northeast West South who belonged to the poorest wealth index in comparison of the older adults who belonged to the richest wealth index [Coef: − 0.13; CI − 0.26, 0.01].The older adults from other religious category were 0.16 times significantly more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorder in reference to the older adults from Hindu religion [Coef: 0.16; CI 0.02, 0.31]. Young-old Old-old Oldest-old Sex Male Female Education status No education/primary not completed Primary completed Secondary completed Higher and above Living arrangements Alone With spouse With children Others Marital status Currently married Widowed Others Working status Working Ever worked but currently not working Not working Distance from health facility Not remote Remote Missing Social participation No Yes Life satisfaction Low Medium High Health factors Self-rated health Good Poor Difficulty in ADL No Yes Difficulty in IADL No Yes Psychological distress Low Medium High Household factors MPCE index Poorest Continued.
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