Abstract

Author:

Md Mohsin, Mohd Sajid Rayeen, Atiqur Rahman

Doi: 10.26480/magg.01.2025.45.53

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Background: India’s aging population is rapidly increasing, posing significant challenges for health and social care systems. Understanding the factors that contribute to healthy or unhealthy aging is critical for developing effective public health policies and interventions. Objectives: This study examines the multidimensional determinants of healthy and unhealthy aging in India, focusing on sociodemographic, economic, and health-related factors. Design: A cross-sectional study design was employed using data from the LASI Wave 1 (2017–2018). Methods: This study analyzed data from 30,298 adults aged 60+ using the Multidimensional Model of Successful Ageing (MMSA), which includes illness absence, functional independence, mental health, social engagement, and life satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and logistic regression models were applied to identify factors associated with healthy and unhealthy aging. Results: Findings indicate that 78.02% of older adults experienced healthy aging, whereas 21.98% were classified as experiencing unhealthy aging. Key determinants of unhealthy aging were advanced age, female gender, lower education, and lack of physical activity. Regional differences showed Northeastern states had higher rates of healthy aging, while Tamil Nadu and Telangana had higher rates of unhealthy aging. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of sociodemographic, economic, and health factors in aging outcomes in India. Targeted interventions are needed to address risk factors and promote successful aging among older adults. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The findings stress the need for targeted public health strategies to improve older adults’ quality of life and reduce strain on India’s healthcare system, emphasizing a patient-centered, multidimensional approach to aging care. Patient or Public Contribution: This study used data from LASI Wave 1, a nationally representative survey on ageing. Although patients or the public were not directly involved in the study’s design or analysis of this specific study, their contributions were integral through their participation in the LASI survey.