title: Comparing subjective well-being and health-related quality of life of Australian drug users in treatment in regional and rural Victoria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to examine the self-reported subjective well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of alcohol and other drug users and to examine whether subjective well-being in this sample would be predicted by either HRQOL and/or severity of dependence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 201 Victorian substance users in individual targeted outpatient treatment for a variety of types of substance use. Participants were administered an interview, including the personal well-being index, the SF-8 health survey and the severity of dependence scale, in order to assess subjective well-being, the mental health component of HRQOL and severity of drug dependence respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjective well-being was predicted by mental health aspects of HRQOL (sr(2)  = 0.03) and by employment (sr(2)  = 0.05), rather than by severity of dependence [F(5, 146) = 5.60, P < 0.001, R(2)  = 0.14].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current sample of urban and regional substance users in outpatient treatment shows poorer levels of subjective well-being than do the general population. Subjective well-being was predicted by mental aspects of HRQOL and not by severity of drug dependence or by physical aspects of HRQOL. Treatment which aims to improve substance users' well-being should include mental health interventions and pathways to employment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hyder
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zinkiewicz
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Droste
authors.forename: Jane B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014505:Urban Population; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: drug and alcohol treatment; health-related quality of life; mental health; quality of life; subjective well-being