A newer version of this project is available. See below for other available versions.

Data and Code for: Depression and Loneliness Among the Elderly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Principal Investigator(s):  View help for Principal Investigator(s) Abhijit Banerjee, MIT; Esther Duflo, MIT; Erin Grela, MIT; Garima Sharma, MIT; Madeline McKelway, Dartmouth; Girija Vaidyanathan, Indian Institute of Technology Madras; Frank Schilbach, MIT

Version:  View help for Version V1

Name File Type Size Last Modified
  code 02/19/2023 05:33:PM
  data 02/19/2023 05:47:PM
README.pdf application/pdf 46.8 KB 02/19/2023 12:52:PM

Project Citation: 

Banerjee, Abhijit, Duflo, Esther, Grela, Erin, Sharma, Garima, McKelway, Madeline, Vaidyanathan, Girija, and Schilbach, Frank. Data and Code for: Depression and Loneliness Among the Elderly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2023-02-19. https://doi.org/10.3886/E185121V1

Project Description

Summary:  View help for Summary We combine data from longitudinal surveys in seven low- and middle-income countries (plus the United States for comparison) to document that depressive symptoms among those aged 55 and above are prevalent in those countries and increase sharply with age. Depressive symptoms in one survey wave are associated with a greater decline in ability to carry out basic daily activities and a higher probability of death in the next wave. Using additional data from a panel survey we conducted in Tamil Nadu with a focus on elderly living alone, we document that social isolation, poverty, and physical health challenges are three of the leading correlates of depression. We discuss potential policy interventions in these three domains, including some results from our randomized control trials in the Tamil Nadu sample. 
Funding Sources:  View help for Funding Sources NIA (P01AG005842); Tamil Nadu Government (JPAL-TNAGE)

Scope of Project

Subject Terms:  View help for Subject Terms mental health; elderly
Geographic Coverage:  View help for Geographic Coverage United States, Malawi, China, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, India, Costa Rica


Related Publications

Download this project

Published Versions

V2 [2023-04-25]

V1 [2023-02-19]

Export Metadata

Dublin Core

DDI 2.5

Report a Problem

Found a serious problem with the data, such as disclosure risk or copyrighted content? Let us know.

This material is distributed exactly as received from the data depositor. As of April 2026, depositors are required to submit study materials in accessible formats. ICPSR has not reviewed, checked, or processed this material. For additional information about the study, please contact the investigator(s) directly. If you have questions about the accessibility of materials distributed by ICPSR or require further assistance, please visit ICPSR's Accessibility Center.