Living Arrangements and Psychological Disposition of Elderly Widows in Rural India

One of the main social effects of extension of life is the extended period of widowhood for many Indian women. According to 2001 Census, there are 34 million widows in India constituting 6 percent of the total female population and 52 percent of the women over the age of 60 years. The living arrangement of the elderly widows is seen as a parameter of great importance in understanding their status after widowhood. Using the data collected from field survey of 300 elderly widows from rural Jharkhand, the paper tries to examine whether the living arrangements of elderly widows have any bearing on the status of their psychological condition. The study found that thirteen percent of the elderly widows are living alone or ‘left behind’, which show their changed status in family after becoming widow. Around one fourth of elderly widows reported that their children took decision regarding their living arrangements. It has also found that some of the elderly widows were not so happy with their present living arrangements but they are forced to stay. Majority complained of “loneliness” and “lack of care” from the family indicating the extent of frustration among them. 31 percent of young-old widows were severely depressed. The elderly widows who are living alone, around 36 percent are severely depressed.