title: Do Place and Time Make a Difference? Examining Quality of Life Among Homeless Persons in Northwest Arkansas and Birmingham.
abstract: This study examines the role that life chances and choices play in determining quality of life among homeless people. Given the prominent negative impact of homelessness, this paper specifically examines the impact of length of time homeless and location on adverse quality of life. OLS regression examined quality of life among 264 homeless adults living in Northwest Arkansas and Birmingham, Alabama. Analysis shows no significant impact of life choices on quality of life but a significant impact of life chances including strong social ties and mastery of fate, on adverse quality of life. Length of time homeless was related to adverse quality of life, but location was not, indicating that the homeless experience with regards to subjective quality of life did not vary significantly between Birmingham and Northwest Arkansas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Community and Family Institute, University of Arkansas, 211 Old Main, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Community and Family Institute, University of Arkansas, 211 Old Main, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA. kfitzpa@uark.edu.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000407:Alabama; D001131:Arkansas; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Homelessness; Life chances and life choices; Quality of Life