Understanding Productive Aging In Rural Bangladesh: Meanings, Practices, and Lived Experiences of Older Adults

Background and Purpose:
Existing literature documents that productive aging (PA) impacts the health and overall well-being of older adults. However, the existing literature, theories, and frameworks are highly westernized and urbanized, which limits understanding of how PA is experienced in low-income countries and rural contexts. Bangladesh, as a least-developed country, has been experiencing an enormous increase in the proportion of older adults while lacking comprehensive policies and support services for older adults, particularly in rural communities. Given these socio-economic and cultural conditions, older adults often continue to contribute economically and socially to their families and communities. Yet, despite growing global attention to productive aging, significant gaps remain in the literature on productive aging in rural, low-income contexts. This qualitative study addresses this gap by exploring older adults' perceptions of PA, the types of PA they engage in, and the social, cultural, and structural factors that shape their participation in productive roles.

Methods:
This qualitative study employed an ethnographic approach with in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Participants were adults aged 60 years and older living in rural areas of Bangladesh. Sixteen participants were purposely recruited, with two participants representing each of the country’s eight administrative divisions to capture geographic diversity. Interviews were conducted in Bangla, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with NVivo 12 Pro. An iterative coding process was used to develop and refine themes, ensuring methodological coherence between the study objectives, data collection, and analytic procedures.

Results:
Older adults in rural areas of Bangladesh perceived PA as active engagement in a range of activities that bring value to their own lives and to their families and communities. Five major themes emerged from the analysis. First, productive aging was foremost viewed as an economic necessity, as many participants continued working due to limited financial security. Second, participants described productive engagement as both an obligation and a personal desire, reflecting strong cultural values of family responsibility and social contribution. Third, gender norms shaped opportunities for productive roles, with older men more likely to participate in paid work and public activities, while women were largely engaged in unpaid household labor and caregiving. Fourth, age and physical health influenced participation, with declining physical capacity limiting involvement in physically demanding work. Finally, ageist stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes reduced opportunities for employment and community participation, despite older adults’ willingness and capacity to contribute to their families and communities.

Conclusions and Implications:
This study contributes to a growing body of literature challenging Western-centric models of productive aging by centering the lived experiences of older adults in rural Bangladesh. This study reveals that complex socioeconomic conditions, cultural values, gender norms, and structural constraints shape PA in rural Bangladesh. Unlike in developed countries, older adults in rural Bangladesh remain productive out of economic necessity while seeking purpose in contributing to family and community life. The results highlight the significance of social policies and community programs for income-generating and community-serving opportunities, and of strengthening social protection systems and recognizing unpaid caregiving roles.