Gender Differences in Living Arrangements Among Older Persons in India

This article uses the 52nd round of National Sample Survey data to examine gender differences in living arrangement choices of the elderly in India. Older women are more likely to live alone than older men, even after controlling for demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, health status, economic independence and property ownership. Economic independence is associated with higher likelihood of living alone for men and women. While physical immobility decreases the likelihood of living with children or extended family for older men, older and physically immobile women are less likely to live alone if they have sons rather than daughters.