Gender differences in disability among older persons in India: Evidence from the longitudinal ageing study in India (LASI)

Older women experience higher rates of disability compared to men. This gender disparity is linked to varying risk factors. The objective of this study is to investigate gender differences in disability among older adults in India For this study, we used Longitudinal Ageing Study of India, Wave 1 (2017-2018) data, a nationally representative dataset of older persons age 60 years and above. Both descriptive and inferential statistics are used to analysis the data. Our findings indicate that older women report higher rates of vision, hearing, difficulty in chewing solid food, and physical disabilities, contributing to the observed gender differences in disability. Among these, vision impairment is the most prevalent. Notably, women with fewer years of schooling and those living in households in the lower wealth quintiles exhibit the highest levels of disability. Additionally, older individuals who are of advanced age, widowed, living in urban areas or alone, currently employed, or who experienced poor childhood health are more likely to report disabilities. The higher prevalence of disability among women is the result of a combination of demographic and socioeconomic factors. These findings serve as a wake-up call for researchers and policymakers to prioritize gender-sensitive interventions aimed at preventing disability among older adults.