Beyond Chronological Age: Active Ageing Index, Social Class, and Economic Realities of Rural Karnataka, India

The country's ageing population, particularly in rural areas, presents growing public health and policy challenges. Gender-based disparities in socioeconomic domains further exacerbate vulnerabilities among the elderly. Assessing ageing through domains that incorporate local factors is essential for designing effective interventions.

This study aimed to: (1) assess active ageing levels among rural older adults using a locally adapted Active Ageing Index (AAI) aligned with the WHO framework; (2) examine the association between AAI scores and sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, marital status, education, employment, and social class; and (3) explore gender-based disparities in economic and social security indicators-such as land ownership, income sufficiency, and pension access-that influence active ageing through secondary analysis.

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 355 older adults in rural study area. The AAI was constructed using domain-based indicators across health, participation, and security, and categorised into Poor, Moderate, and Good levels. Associations with sociodemographic variables were assessed using Chi-square tests. For the third objective, gender differences in economic and security-related indicators were assessed through secondary analysis involving cross-tabulations and chi-square tests.

Among the participants, 53.5% had Good AAI scores, 40.3% Moderate, and 6.2% Poor. A significant association was observed between AAI and social class (χ² = 7.02, p = .0306). Gender was not significantly associated with overall AAI categories; however, Secondary analysis of economic indicators within the Security domain revealed that women had lower land ownership, pension access, and income sufficiency compared to men.

Active Ageing Index was significantly associated with social class. While overall AAI scores did not differ significantly by gender, domain-level analysis demonstrated that socio-economic disadvantages place elderly women at greater risk of security. These results underscore the importance of gender-sensitive policies and interventions to strengthen the Security pillar of active ageing in rural India, ensuring equitable opportunities for all older adults.