A study of loneliness among senior Indian migrant women in New Zealand: Identifying the gaps, challenges, and opportunities for support
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Authors
Kaur, Karamjeet
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)
Grantor
Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
Date
2025
Supervisors
Papoutsaki, Evangelia
Pizzini, Nigel
Pizzini, Nigel
Type
Masters Thesis
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
New Zealand
Indians in New Zealand
older migrants in New Zealand
older women
migrant experiences
loneliness in old age
Indian diaspora
intergenerational relations
community support
acculturation
Indians in New Zealand
older migrants in New Zealand
older women
migrant experiences
loneliness in old age
Indian diaspora
intergenerational relations
community support
acculturation
Citation
Kaur, K. (2025). A study of loneliness among senior Indian migrant women in New Zealand: Identifying the gaps, challenges, and opportunities for support (Unpublished document submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Practice (Social Practice)). Unitec, Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
https://hdl.handle.net/10652/6939
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The fundamental question of this research is as follows:
What are the lived experiences of older Indian migrant women in NZ? Through narrative analysis, this project seeks to understand elderly female Indian migrants anticipated advantages and disadvantages (including potential risks of loneliness) associated with ageing in New Zealand.
The following questions provide more specific exploration into key aspects of their experience. Q1. What insights have elderly Indian migrant women in New Zealand gained regarding loneliness and ageing in India through their observations of and interactions with their parents, grandparents, and other elderly relatives? How do these experiences inform their perceptions of old age?
Q2. What are the expectations and aspirations of older Indian migrant women regarding their ageing process in New Zealand, and how do they anticipate managing the risk of loneliness in their later years?
Q3. What evidence-based solutions, interventions, and support services can be developed or adapted to effectively mitigate loneliness among elderly Indian migrant women in New Zealand, and what role can cultural sensitivity and community engagement play in addressing this issue?
ABSTRACT
This study presents the lived experience of loneliness as experienced by elderly Indian migrant women living in New Zealand, whose social, emotional, and cultural experiences impact their ageing process. As the number of the elderly Indian migrant population expands and the growth of using aged-care services builds, this research examines the role of migration, cultural displacement, language gaps, and intergenerational shifts as key factors contributing to loneliness. The study is based on a narrative inquiry framework and social practice perspectives and draws on the personal accounts of Indian women aged over 65 years who live in different situations, such as rest homes, retirement villages or family dwellings within the community. Data were collected through semantically guided interviews and analysed thematically to gain insight into participants perceptions, desires, and coping strategies.
Findings reveal that participants experience isolation due to physical separation from family and cultural incongruities within the care paradigm in New Zealand. In contrast to the traditional Indian collective family system, which allows intergenerational support and companionship on a daily basis, these Indian women find themselves isolated in a culture that is highly individualistic. They feel even more lonely due to language barriers, absence of culturally personalised services and challenges in adapting to mainstream aged-care environments. Nevertheless, these research participants exhibit resilience through engagement in a range of religious activities and participatory community sessions, including the preservation of culture through yoga, prayer and storytelling. They also maintain connections to their family and community in India through digital technology.
This research highlights the urgent need for culturally informed interventions, such as faith based outreach, culturally specific elder care programmes, and digital literacy interventions aimed at enhancing the well-being of elderly Indian migrants. Partnerships with Indian cultural organisations such as Shanti Niwas and Bhartiya Samaj are identified as essential for fostering social inclusion, improving life satisfaction, and mitigating the health risks associated with long-term loneliness. By addressing gaps in understanding ethnic and gender-specific experiences of migrant ageing, this research advocates for inclusive eldercare policies grounded in cultural competence and equity. The findings offer practical implications for service providers, policymakers and community leaders in the co-designing of effective structures as the means of that honour the dignity, identity, and well-being of elderly Indian women migrants in New Zealand.
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