Background The migration of adult children significantly affects older adults’ lives in various ways. This study explores the association between adult children’s migration and perceived discrimination among older adults left behind in India. Methods The study utilises nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1 conducted during 2017-18. The final sample included 24,747 older people aged 60 & above living with non-migrant, internal migrant, and international migrant children. Bivariate analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of perceived discrimination. Relative risk regression has been performed to show the association between migration status and perceived discrimination among older adults. Additionally, interaction terms were incorporated to examine whether the effect of a child’s migration on perceived discrimination is moderated by gender and place of residence. Results The study highlighted that 18.53% of older adults with internal migrant children reported experiencing perceived discrimination in their daily life, followed by 17.48% of those with non-migrant children and 14.69% with international migrant children. Older adults with internal and international migrant children had a lower relative risk of perceived discrimination (RRR = 0.91,95% CI = 0.91–0.91), (RRR = 0.81,95% CI = 0.81–0.81) compared to those with non-migrant children. However, older women with internal migrant children (RRR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.03–1.03) and older adults living in urban areas with internal migrant children (RRR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.20–1.20) exhibit a higher relative risk of perceived discrimination. Additionally, being employed, dissatisfaction with living arrangements, low subjective social position, depression and experience of ill-treatment were all strongly associated with a high risk of perceived discrimination. Conclusion The internal migration of adult children tends to intensify feelings of social exclusion and perceived discrimination, especially among older women and those living in urban areas. An integrated socioeconomic and gender-inclusive framework is necessary to address the social cost of migration on older adults left behind in India.
