• DR. SHYAM SUNDER PRASAD

Abstract: Indian society is changing rapidly. Significant changes are taking place in kinship networks, living arrangements and intergenerational dynamics. Members of joit families are living geographically apart and family structures are increasingly becoming smaller and more independent. The "ascribed" status of the older population is gradually being replaced by the "achieved" status of the younger population. The changing social environment has affected the family structures, individual lifestyles as well as the role of the family as a are-giver influencing the self-concept, incidences of depression, loneliness and decreased psycho-physical health in the immunity for the elderly in India. India has earned the distinction of being a 'greying nation' with about 7.7% of its population consisting of older adults. The size f India's elderly population aged 60 year estimated to increase from 71 million individuals in 2001 to 179 million individuals in 2031 and further to 301 million oder adults by 2051. This would make it the second largest population of the elderly in the world and 13% of India's population by 2025 (Chadha, 1997).

Keywords: Loneliness, Indian society, depressed symptroms, mental health, Depression, etc.

"RELIGIOSITY AND LONELINESS AMONG THE AGED", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 3, page no.257-260, March-2017, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1703052.pdf

"RELIGIOSITY AND LONELINESS AMONG THE AGED", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.4, Issue 3, page no. pp257-260, March-2017, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1703052.pdf