Skip to main content
Log in

Quality of Life during Old-Age in Nepal. A Statistical Analysis

  • Published:
Journal of Population Ageing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The relationship between living arrangement and quality of life in elders over time can serve important functions for both the elder persons and their caretakers. From this point of view, the article analyzes statistically to understand living arrangement of Nepalese senior citizens who are residing between two countries India and China, and it is socially and culturally constructed. The study is based on the nationally representing survey on ageing, which includes 7200 households having 8626 older persons aged 60 and above years. Using logistics regression model, the quality of life in old age is evaluated in terms of dependent variables (e.g., evaluating wellbeing, hedonic wellbeing and eudemonic wellbeing), independent variables (e.g., age, sex, places of residence (Urban/Rural, Ecological and Provincial), caste/ethnic composition, and educational status), and control variables (living arrangements and social activities and participation). Overall, the quality of elderly’s life during old age has been declining gradually as they started living alone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. see http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/ accessed on October 26, 2019

References

  • Adhikari, U. P. (2014). Age sex composition. Population Monograph of Nepal Vol. I (pp 39–70). Government of Nepal: Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axin, J. (1989). Women and ageing: Issues of adequacy and equity. Journal of Women and Ageing, 1(3), 339–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagga, A. (2010). Anthropological studies in the new millennium: Biological anthropological research in gerontology. Indian Anthropologist, 40(2), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beall, C. M., & Goldstein, M. C. (1982). Work, aging and dependency in a Sherpa population in Nepal. Social Science and Medicine, 16, 141–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bland, M. (1996). An introduction to medical statistics. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cantril, H. (1965). The pattern of human concerns. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, L. (1970). Land and social change in Nepal: A study of Hindu-tribal relations. London: Routledge and Keagan Paul.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • CBS. (1995). Population monograph of Nepal. Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • CBS. (2003). Population monograph of Nepal. Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • CBS. (2014). Population monograph of Nepal. Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). (1987). Population monograph of Nepal. Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Childs, G., Craig, S., Beall, C. M., & Basnyat, B. (2014). Depopulating the Himalayan highlands: Education and outmigration from ethnically Tibetan communities of Nepal. Mountain Research and Development, 34(2), 85–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cumming, E., & Henry, W. (1961). Growing old: The process of disengagement. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVellis, R. F. (2003). Scale development: Theory and application. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Suh, E. (1997). Measuring quality of life: Economic, social, and subjective indicators. Social Indicators Research, 40(1), 89–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125(2), 276–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furer-Haimendrof, C. (1975). Himalayan traders: Life in highland in Nepal. London: John Murry Publishers Ltd..

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, M., & Beall, C. M. (1980). Growing old in Helmbu: Aging, migration, and family structure among Sherpas. Contribution to Nepalese Studies, 8(1), 41–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurung, H. B. (1983). Internal and international migration in Nepal. Kathmandu: National Commission on Population.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper, S. (2006). Addressing the implication of global ageing. Journal of Population Research, 23(2), 205–223 http://www.jstor.org/stable/41110870 accessed: July 1, 2015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, J., & Todaro, M. (1970). Migration, unemployment and development: A two-sector analysis. American Economic Review, 60(1), 126–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • HelpAge International. (2015). Global AgeWatch index insight report. UK: HelpAge International.

    Google Scholar 

  • HelpAge International (2016). Assessing the impact of 2015 Nepal earthquake on older people and persons with disabilities how gender and ethnicity factors into that impact. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Assessing_the_impact_of_2015_nepal_earthquake.pdf access on October 27, 2019.

  • Hitchcock, J. (1966). The Magars of Banyan Hill. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holm, S. (1979). A simple sequentially rejective multiple test procedure. Scandinavian journal of statistics, 6(2), 65–70 http://www.jstor.org/stable/4615733 accessed on September 17, 2016.

    Google Scholar 

  • KC, B. K. (2008). Nepal. Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 17(3/4), 287–309, Nepal.

  • Keith, J., Fry, C. L., Glascock, A. P., Ikels, C., Dickerson-Putman, J., Harpending, H. C., & Draper, P. (1994). The ageing experience: Diversity and commonality across cultures. London: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharel, S. (2019). Elderly’s quality of life in later years: Evidence from Nepal. KAAV International Journals of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 1, 104–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khatiwada, P. P. (2014). International migration and citizenship in Nepal. Population monograph of Nepal Vol. I (pp 211-240). Kathmandu: Central bureau of statistics, Government of Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knodel, J., Chamratrithirong, A., & Debavaya, N. (1987). Thailand’s reproductive revolution: Rapid fertility decline in a third-world setting. Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laslett, P. (1991). A fresh map of life. The emergence of the third age. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macfarlane, A. (1976). Resources and population: A study of Gurungs of Nepal. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manzardo, A. E. (1978). Fluid boundaries: Forming and transforming identity in Nepal. Columbia: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Messerschmidt, D. A. (1976). Ecological change and adaptation among the Gurungs of Nepal Himalaya. Human Ecology, 4(2), 167–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Finance (MoF) (2019). Budget speech of fiscal year 2019/20. https://mof.gov.np/uploads/document/file/budget_speech_website_20190619052055.pdf accessed on November 2, 2019.

  • Ministry of Health and Population. (2016). Nepal earthquake 2015: A socio-demographic impact study (with reference to 14 most affected districts). Kathmandu: MoHP, Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health and Population. (2019). The 2014 Nepal ageing survey report. Kathmandu: MoHP, Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mujahid, G. (2006). Population ageing in east and South-East Asia. In Papers in population ageing no 1. Bangkok: UNFPA-CST.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Planning Commission (NPC). (2007). Three-year interim plan (2007/08–2009/10) (eleventh). Kathmandu: NPC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neugarten, B. L., & Peterson, W. A. (1957). A study of the American age-grade system. Proc. 4th Cong. Int. Assoc. Gerontology, 3, 487–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • NPC. (2011). Three-year interim plan (2010/11–2012/13) (twelfth). Kathmandu: NPC.

    Google Scholar 

  • NPC. (2014). Three-year interim plan (2013/14–2015/16) (thirteenth). Kathmandu: NPC.

    Google Scholar 

  • NPC. (2017). Three-year interim plan (2016/17–2018/19) (fourteenth). Kathmandu: NPC.

    Google Scholar 

  • NPC. (2019). Five-year development plan (2014/15–2016/17) (fourteenth). Kathmandu: NPC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillipson, C. (1982). Capitalism and the constructions of old age. London: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pradhan, M. C., Acharya, Y. N., & Das, R. C. (2014). Life tables analysis of Nepal. Population monograph of Nepal Vol. I (pp. 161-210). Kathmandu: Central bureau of statistics, Government of Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravenstein, E. G. (1885). The laws of migration. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, 48, 167–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riley, M. W. (1979). Ageing from birth to death (Vol.1) (Interdisciplinary perspectives). Boulder: Westview Press for the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. (2009). Living arrangements, social integration, and loneliness in later life: The case of physical disability. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 50, 460–475 http://www.jstor.org/stable/20617655 accessed on October 28, 2019.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, M. L. (2003). Ageing of population in Nepal. Population Monograph of Nepal Vol. II (pp 251–294). Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics, Government of Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh, M. L. (2014). Aspects of ageing. Population Monograph of Nepal Vol. II (pp73–110). Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS): Government of Nepal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe A., A. Deaton, A. A Stone (2014). Subjective wellbeing, health and ageing https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61489-0 accessed on October 28, 2019.

  • Subedi, P. K. (2006a). Fertility behaviour among Duras: Multidisciplinary approaches. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Exeter: University of Exeter, UK.

  • Subedi, P. K. (2006b). Anthropology of the old age security and fertility. Nepal Population Journal, 12, 69–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi, P. K. (2010). Social process of ageing in rural Nepal. Sangam Journal, 2(1), 31–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi. (2013). A study in social gerontology: Evidence from Nepal. In A research report submitted to University Grants Commission (UGC). Samothimi: Bhaktapur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, X., Lucas, H., Meng, Q., & Zhang, Y. (2011). Associations between living arrangements and health-related quality of life of urban elderly people: A study from China. Quality of Life Research, 20(3), 359–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suwal, B. (2014). Internal migration in Nepal. Population monograph of Nepal Vol. I (pp 241-284). Kathmandu: Central Bureau of Statistics, government of Nepal.

  • UN. (2000). World population ageing 1950–2050. United Nations: Population Divisions, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2005). Living arrangement of older person around the world. New York: United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN. (2013). World population ageing 2013. United Nations: Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN, Department of Economics, and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World population prospects 2019. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/ accessed on October 27, 2019.

  • United Nations (UN) (1994). Programme of action adopted at the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994. Population and Development Review, Vol. 1: E.95.XIII.7.

  • Vincent, J. A. (1995). Inequality and old age. London: University College of London Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • WHOQoL Group. (1993). Measuring quality of life: The development of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument (WHOQOL). Geneva: WHO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zelinsky, W. (1971). The hypothesis of mobility transition. The Geographical Review, 61(2), 219–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pushp Kamal Subedi.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Subedi, P.K. Quality of Life during Old-Age in Nepal. A Statistical Analysis. Population Ageing 15, 173–191 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-020-09287-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-020-09287-2

Keywords

Navigation