Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population
Quality of life (QOL) is a key indicator in mental health planning, program evaluation, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Yet few studies have focused on QOL in homeless populations. More specifically, research has yet to identify profiles of homeless individuals based on their QOL using cluster a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00010/full |
| _version_ | 1818213886661230592 |
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| author | Lia Gentil Lia Gentil Guy Grenier Jean-Marie Bamvita Henri Dorvil Marie-Josée Fleury Marie-Josée Fleury |
| author_facet | Lia Gentil Lia Gentil Guy Grenier Jean-Marie Bamvita Henri Dorvil Marie-Josée Fleury Marie-Josée Fleury |
| author_sort | Lia Gentil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Quality of life (QOL) is a key indicator in mental health planning, program evaluation, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Yet few studies have focused on QOL in homeless populations. More specifically, research has yet to identify profiles of homeless individuals based on their QOL using cluster analysis. This study developed a typology of QOL for a sample of 455 homeless individuals recruited from 27 community and public organizations in Quebec (Canada). The typology was developed based on QOL scores, as well as sociodemographic, clinical, and service use variables. Study participants had to be at least 18 years old, with current or previous experience of homelessness. A questionnaire including socio-demographics, residential history, service utilization, and health-related variables was administered. Four clusters were identified using a two-step cluster analysis. QOL was highest in the cluster consisting of older women with low functional disability, and relatively few episodes of homelessness. The second cluster with high QOL scores included individuals living in temporary housing with relatively few mental health or substance use disorders (SUDs). The third cluster with low QOL included middle-aged women living in temporary housing, with criminal records, personality disorders, and SUDs. QOL was also lower in the fourth cluster composed of individuals with multiple homeless episodes and complex health problems as well as high overall service use. Findings reinforced the importance of disseminating specific programs adapted to the diverse profiles of homeless individuals, with a view toward increasing their QOL. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:11:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6120a7a1ab2e4b978be4870a1d086af2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:11:25Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-6120a7a1ab2e4b978be4870a1d086af22022-12-22T00:35:08ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402019-01-011010.3389/fpsyt.2019.00010420903Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless PopulationLia Gentil0Lia Gentil1Guy Grenier2Jean-Marie Bamvita3Henri Dorvil4Marie-Josée Fleury5Marie-Josée Fleury6Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaResearch Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, CanadaResearch Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, CanadaResearch Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, CanadaSchool of Social Work, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, CanadaDepartment of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, CanadaResearch Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, CanadaQuality of life (QOL) is a key indicator in mental health planning, program evaluation, and evaluation of patient outcomes. Yet few studies have focused on QOL in homeless populations. More specifically, research has yet to identify profiles of homeless individuals based on their QOL using cluster analysis. This study developed a typology of QOL for a sample of 455 homeless individuals recruited from 27 community and public organizations in Quebec (Canada). The typology was developed based on QOL scores, as well as sociodemographic, clinical, and service use variables. Study participants had to be at least 18 years old, with current or previous experience of homelessness. A questionnaire including socio-demographics, residential history, service utilization, and health-related variables was administered. Four clusters were identified using a two-step cluster analysis. QOL was highest in the cluster consisting of older women with low functional disability, and relatively few episodes of homelessness. The second cluster with high QOL scores included individuals living in temporary housing with relatively few mental health or substance use disorders (SUDs). The third cluster with low QOL included middle-aged women living in temporary housing, with criminal records, personality disorders, and SUDs. QOL was also lower in the fourth cluster composed of individuals with multiple homeless episodes and complex health problems as well as high overall service use. Findings reinforced the importance of disseminating specific programs adapted to the diverse profiles of homeless individuals, with a view toward increasing their QOL.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00010/fullquality of lifehomelesscluster analysismental health disorderssubstance use disorderstype of accommodation |
| spellingShingle | Lia Gentil Lia Gentil Guy Grenier Jean-Marie Bamvita Henri Dorvil Marie-Josée Fleury Marie-Josée Fleury Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population Frontiers in Psychiatry quality of life homeless cluster analysis mental health disorders substance use disorders type of accommodation |
| title | Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population |
| title_full | Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population |
| title_fullStr | Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population |
| title_short | Profiles of Quality of Life in a Homeless Population |
| title_sort | profiles of quality of life in a homeless population |
| topic | quality of life homeless cluster analysis mental health disorders substance use disorders type of accommodation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00010/full |
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