Regional Differences in Psychological Well-being of Elderly: A Comparative Study Across Districts of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Geography often dictates destiny, especially for vulnerable populations. This study, however, reveals a surprising finding on the psychological Well-being of the elderly in Uttarakhand’s diverse landscape. The research investigated the psychological well-being (PWB) of older adults across the geographically distinct districts of Almora, Pithoragarh and U.S. Nagar. It was expected that the severe challenges in the hill areas—namely poor road connectivity, migration and limited access to health services—would significantly decrease PWB. Yet, the findings demonstrate that the elderly in Pithoragarh achieved the highest overall PWB among the three districts. It shows that the negative pressures of geographical and infrastructural isolation do not deteriorate the well-being to that extent. Though, improving physical infrastructure remains important, effective interventions must prioritize strengthening these resilient social support systems to truly enhance the mental health of elderly populations in remote, challenging environments.