Peer-reviewed article
Adverse self-rated health transition among older adults in India: a retrospective life course approach.
Rahaman M, Venkatesh U, Bera OP, Grover A ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines how self-rated health changes across the lifespan among older adults in India, using data from over 70,000 people aged 45 and above. It finds that 51% experienced a decline from good childhood health to poor or fair health in later life, with risk factors including early-life hardships like child labour and child marriage. The research shows that adverse health trajectories result from cumulative disadvantages throughout life rather than ageing alone, and suggests that early social investments and community wellness programs could improve healthy ageing.
Key points
- 51% of older adults in India experienced an adverse self-rated health trajectory from childhood to later life
- Early-life disadvantages including child labour, child marriage, and persistent household poverty significantly increased risk of adverse health transitions
- Chronic multimorbidity, functional limitations, depression, and substance consumption were associated with poor health transitions
- Higher education and participation in social and physical activities were protective factors
- Adverse health trajectories are shaped by cumulative life-course exposures rather than ageing alone
Limitations
This study is based on retrospective self-reported data on childhood health, which may be subject to recall bias. The cross-sectional analysis at a single time point limits causal inference about the temporal relationships between early-life exposures and later health outcomes.
Abstract
Self-rated health (SRH) is a validated epidemiological measure that captures an individual's overall health perception and predicts morbidity and mortality. Despite extensive research on SRH among older adults in India, evidence on its transition across the life course remains limited. Using data from 70,595 individuals aged 45 years and above from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) 2017-2018, this study examined transitions in SRH from childhood to older adulthood. An adverse SRH trajectory was defined as a shift from good childhood health to poor or fair health in later life. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Overall, 51% of older adults experienced an adverse SRH trajectory. Higher odds were observed among women (AOR: 1.30), individuals with substance consumption (AOR:1.24), chronic multimorbidity (AOR: 3.37), functional limitations (AOR: 2.03), and depression (AOR: 1.51). Early-life disadvantages - child labour, child marriage, and persistent household poverty - were also significant risk factors. In contrast, higher education and participation in social and physical activities were protective. These findings indicate that an adverse subjective health trajectory is shaped by cumulative life-course exposures rather than ageing alone. Strengthening early-life social investments and community-based wellness initiatives is vital to promote healthy and equitable ageing in India.