Title : Socioeconomic and health determinants of quality of life and life satisfaction among adults in India: Evidence from sage India wave 3
Abstract:
Background: Quality of life (QoL) and life satisfaction are known to be key indicators of overall health and well-being especially in LMICs such as India. Thus, understanding how social, economic, and health factors influence these outcomes can inform community-level interventions and policies aimed at improving adult well-being in India.
Methods: This study used data from WHO-SAGE India, Wave 3 which covers data from 7,885 adults aged 18 years and above residing in six Indian states. Both descriptive and bivariate analyses examined differences in QoL and life satisfaction across demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics. Logistic regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for predictors of high QoL and life satisfaction.
Results: The results highlighted that both QoL and life satisfaction drastically declined steadily with age and were higher among men, married adults, urban residents, and those with higher education and income was observed. Additionally, it was noted that participants in the highest wealth quintile were twice as likely to report high QoL [AOR = 2.55; CI: 1.78-3.66] and more than three times as likely to report high life satisfaction [AOR = 3.20; CI: 2.09-4.90] compared with the poorest group. Furthermore, normal, or overweight BMI was positively associated with QoL, whereas hypertension (AOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47–0.92) and smoking [AOR = 0.74; CI: 0.57-0.96] predicted poorer life satisfaction. Participants having difficulties in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) had markedly reduced odds of good QoL [AOR = 0.43; CI: 0.31-0.58]. It was also found that depressive symptoms were strongly linked to lower levels of both QoL [AOR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.44-0.67] and life satisfaction [AOR = 0.78; CI: 0.62-0.99].
Conclusion: Socioeconomic disparities, mental health, and functional status substantially shape adult well-being in India. Thus, it is necessary to integrating mental-health screening, social-support interventions and chronic-disease management into primary healthcare which could in turn enhance the quality of life and ensure life satisfaction, particularly among adults particularly in LMICs and those in disadvantaged settings.
Key words: Quality Of Life; Life Satisfaction; Depression; Socioeconomic Inequality; Adult Health, India.
