Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India

Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas

Page No: 86-105

DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

Background: Kerala is experiencing rapid youth out-migration, leaving a growing number of elderly parents without co-resident children. While the broad effects of this migration on parental well-being have been studied, two dimensions remain largely unexplored: the psychological burden of uncertainty about whether migrating children will return, and the gap between the support elderly parents currently receive and what they report needing. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected from elderly participants across Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta districts using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and WHOQOL-BREF. Qualitative data came from open-ended indepth interviews with purposively selected participants. One-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey correction compared well-being scores across three subgroups defined by children’s return intentions. Open-ended responses were coded using Bradshaw’s (1972) needs taxonomy to map the gap between received and desired support.

Citations

APA: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas (2026). Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

AMA: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas. Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India. 2026. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

Chicago: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas. "Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India." Published 2026. DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

IEEE: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas, "Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India," 2026, DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

ISNAD: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas. "Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India." DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08

MLA: Dennis Reji, Sudha Thomas. "Parental Uncertainty and Unmet Support Needs among Elderly Left Behind by Migrating Children: A Study from Kerala, India." 2026, DOI: 10.5281/VEREDAS.2026/V16I6/08