Preceived social support and its implications on mental health among elderly subjects in varanasi city

Abstract

Ageing is a natural process of life which is common, usual, unavoidable, newlinebiological and universal phenomenon, and it affects every individual irrespective newlineof their colour, caste, religion, economic status, etc. There are some contradictions newlineon the boundary of elderly and it cannot be defined exactly because it does not newlinehave the same meaning in all societies. Here, the elderly is defined as the age of 60 newlineyears and above. According to various National Census reports, the population newlineaged 60 years and above is increasing rapidly in India from 56 million in 1991 to newline70 million in 1998, 104 million in 2011 and it is expected to be 177 million by newline2025. As per Census of India 2011 age of 60 years and above was 8.0% of total newlinepopulation. newline