Navigating urban ageing: Exploring the impact of social network types on subjective well-being among older Indians

Problem considered Amid India's changing family structures and social transformations, resulting from demographic transition, urbanisation, and modernisation, understanding the types of social networks is crucial to ensuring the well-being and dignity of older persons. Hence, this study aims to identify empirical social network types among urban-dwelling older Indians and to examine their associations with subjective well-being outcomes (depression and life satisfaction). Methods Data were drawn from a cross-sectional primary survey conducted in the Kalyani Municipal Area of West Bengal, an eastern state in India (N = 378, age range 60–98 years), from June 2023 to August 2023. Descriptive and bivariate statistical techniques summarised the study variables. Hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses derived empirical social network types. Multivariable hierarchical regressions then assessed associations between social network types and subjective well-being outcomes. Results Cluster analysis identified five distinct social network types: ‘Other,' ‘Friend,' ‘Children (living away),' ‘Spouse and Children (living together)', and a specific type ‘Distant Family.' Compared to the ‘Other' network type, only ‘Distant Family' networks were significantly associated with lower levels of depression and higher levels of self-reported life satisfaction after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion The findings highlight that the presence of specific social network types in older age buffers against negative life events, thereby enhancing subjective well-being. Therefore, elder care should not be seen as a burden but as a shared responsibility - not just for children, but equally for distant family members, particularly among vulnerable older persons. Additionally, promoting social awareness about intergenerational solidarity in elderly care is imperative to foster healthy ageing.