Quality of Life and Mental Well-Being: A Gendered Analysis of Persons Experiencing Homelessness in Canada

Authors

Kristy Buccieri, Trent University
Abe Oudshoorn, The University of Western OntarioFollow
Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff, University of Calgary
Bernadette Pauly, Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research
Rebecca Schiff, Lakehead University
Stephen Gaetz, York University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2020

Journal

Community Mental Health Journal

Volume

56

Issue

8

First Page

1496

Last Page

1503

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1007/s10597-020-00596-6

Abstract

© 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Homelessness has negative implications for mental well-being and quality of life. This paper identifies the quality of life variables that contribute to positive or negative wellbeing, reporting on a regression analysis from 343 individuals experiencing homelessness in Canada. Results indicate that a lack of sleep duration and quality reduced mental well-being for both genders, not having access to food and/or hygiene facilities decreased men’s well-being, and engaging in illegal subsistence strategies, such as selling drugs, negatively impacted women’s mental well-being. For persons experiencing homelessness, mental well-being and quality-of-life are gendered outcomes of their limited access to social determinants of health.