Ind. J. Phys. Anthrop. & Hum. Genet. Vol. 29. Nos. 1-2, (2010) : 59-71 A. K. Kapoor, is Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, E-mail: anupkapoor46@rediffmail.com, Jaspreet Kaur, is ICSSR-Doctoral Fellow, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi Enclave, North Campus, Delhi, E-mail: jaspreet@iegindia.org, Jasmine Kaur Dhall, is UGC-JRF, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, E- mail: jasmine_1759@yahoo.co.in and Meenal Dhall, University Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, E-mail: say2meenal@gmail.com AGEING, HEALTH AND TRIBE: A SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSION A. K. Kapoor, Jaspreet Kaur, Jasmine Kaur Dhall and Meenal Dhall ABSTRACT Health and ageing are the two naturally occurring phenomenon that has been studied by scholars from medical, social, biological and natural sciences. Although ageing is generally viewed as reduced biological efficiency but, there are some social, and psychological factors that affect ageing. Some of the tribal populations due to their social and geographic isolation from the mainstream have a poor access to health care facilities. Further, due to their inaccessibility there is a dearth of research that can give a clear picture of ageing and health among them. In the present study, Mina- a scheduled tribe of Rajasthan who are agriculturists have been studied using various biological and socio-psychological parameters. The results were compared between the control group (comprising of males and females aged 20-25 years) and a test group (comprising of males and females aged 50-80 years). It was found that biological parameters and certain socio-psychological parameters are interlinked and have been observed to be changing with age. Keywords: Ageing-health-tribes-psychological determinants INTRODUCTION Health has been defined and analysed by medical, social, life, and natural scientists as per their training and ecosystem. Research into the biology of human ageing has emphasised the loss or deterioration of biological function as a person gets older. Ageing is often seen as synonymous with reduced biological efficiency. These changes occur because of many factors which are commonly referred to as ageing process. The health of an individual from a physiological view-point, whatever the age, ultimately depends on the efficient functioning of the individual cells and tissues in all systems of the body. A number of factors like, diet, exercise, personal habits and psychosocial factors, play an important role in determining one’s state of health at any age.