As the older population aged 65 and over worldwide, is estimated to increase from 9% in 2019 to 16% in 2050, rapid aging will transform the aspects such as economic security, employment status, and family structure. The effects of lower levels of perceived income and poor socioeconomic status on the mental health of older adults appear to be large and enduring. Therefore, the present study contributes to the literature on understanding the association of socioeconomic conditions and self-perceived income status in particular, with self-assessed mental health outcomes (psychological distress and subjective well-being) among older adults in India. Data for the present study was derived from the Building Knowledge Base on Population Ageing (BKPAI) in India. Bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status and outcome variables. About 43% of older adults had no income whereas 7% had income but perceived as not sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. Nearly, 9% of older adults were retired from regular employment. Almost 70% older adults had received no pension and nearly 18% of older adults had no asset ownership. It is revealed that older adults with income that is partially sufficient to fulfil their basic needs were 2.23 times [OR: 2.23, CI: 1.75–2.84] and 1.96 times [OR: 1.96, CI: 1.55–2.47] significantly more likely to suffer from psychological distress and low subjective well-being than those who had income which was sufficient to fulfil their basic needs. By focusing on four target areas such as the income support, education, family oriented initiatives and local or regional policies, the current framework for assessing the mental health among older adults in India can be modified. A move towards a guaranteed pension for eligible older individuals by which they do not have to remain as a financial burden on their children, may reduce their self-perceived economic distress and result in higher levels of wellbeing in older ages. Also, strategies to address socioeconomic disadvantages and gender differentials related to mental health status among older population are urgently needed.

中文翻译：

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自我感知收入状况与心理困扰和主观幸福感的关联：印度老年人的横断面研究


全球65岁及以上老年人口预计将从2019年的9%增加到2050年的16%，快速老龄化将改变经济保障、就业状况、家庭结构等方面。较低的感知收入水平和较差的社会经济地位对老年人心理健康的影响似乎是巨大且持久的。因此，本研究有助于了解印度老年人的社会经济条件和自我感知收入状况，特别是与自我评估的心理健康结果（心理困扰和主观幸福感）之间的关系。本研究的数据来自印度人口老龄化知识库（BKPAI）。进行双变量和二元逻辑回归分析，以了解社会经济地位和结果变量之间的关系。大约 43% 的老年人没有收入，而 7% 的老年人有收入但被认为不足以满足他们的基本需求。近 9% 的老年人从正常工作中退休。近70%的老年人没有领取养老金，近18%的老年人没有资产所有权。研究表明，收入部分足以满足其基本需求的老年人遭受痛苦的可能性显着增加 2.23 倍 [OR: 2.23, CI: 1.75–2.84] 和 1.96 倍 [OR: 1.96, CI: 1.55–2.47]与收入足以满足基本需求的人相比，他们遭受心理困扰和主观幸福感较低。通过关注收入支持、教育、以家庭为导向的举措以及地方或区域政策等四个目标领域，可以修改印度老年人心理健康评估的现行框架。 为符合条件的老年人提供有保障的养老金，使他们不必继续成为子女的经济负担，可能会减少他们自我感知的经济困境，并导致老年人的福祉水平更高。此外，迫切需要制定战略来解决与老年人心理健康状况相关的社会经济劣势和性别差异。