Social capital and well-being of the elderly ‘left-behind’ by their migrant children in India

Background The study aims to examine the association between individual forms of social capital and the well-being of the elderly ‘left-behind’ parents and to determine if there is a gender difference within the possible relationship. Methods This study applied the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI, 2017-18) data. In this study, the respondents were 4,736 older parents ‘left-behind’ by their migrant adult sons. We employed descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis to assess the study sample’s characteristics. The proportion test was performed to examine if there was a significant gender difference among older adults regarding depression, ADL, and IADL impairments. In addition, binary logistic regression was utilized to investigate the associations between social capital and elderly parents’ health outcomes. Results This study found a significant gender difference in depression (male: 8.26%; female:11.32%; P < 0.001), ADL (male:20.23%; female:25.75%; P = 0.032), and IADL (male: 33.97% female: 54.13%; P < 0.001) limitations. Elderly parents who did not participate in any social activity had a higher odd of ADL (aOR: 2.44; 95%CI: 1.882–3.171; P = < 0.001) and IADL (aOR: 1.22; 95%CI: 1.034–1.766 ; P = < 0.001) limitations. Networking with friends through phone/email conversations has a substantial impact on lowering depression in older parents. Older adults with good personal social capital were less likely to have depression, ADL, and IADL limitations. Conclusion Personal social capital is closely associated with the well-being of left-behind older parents. More efforts should be in place to increase the stock of social capital in this group with focused gender disparity.