Factors Contributing to the Quality of Life of the Urban Homeless

도시 노숙자의 삶의 질 예측요인

Homeless people have remained one of the most disadvantaged groups in Korea. Therefore this study aims at examining how the homeless evaluate their quality of life and which factors influence their quality of life. The subjects of this study were 185 homeless adults residing on the street, in the shelter, and in substandard housing in Daejeon Metropolitan City. With a view to collecting the data effectively, different approaches have been taken for each type of homelessness in this study. By using the Korean Version of WHOQOL-BREF(brief version of WHO quality of life measure), this study has examined the current circumstance of the homeless and identified the predictors of their quality of life. The results of this study reconfirm low quality of life of homeless people. Also the results of this study indicate that the important factors influencing their quality of life are age, receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, alcohol use, alcohol addiction, housing type, and recognition by others. Predictors of each domain of quality of life differ to some extent. Statistically significant predictors of physical health are receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, and housing type. Psychological health is significantly influenced by age, receipt of public assistance, perceived health status, housing type, and recognition by others. Significant predictors of social relations are alcohol use, housing type, and recognition by others. Environment is significantly influenced by perceived health status, housing type, and recognition by others. On the basis of the findings of this empirical analysis, some measures conducive to the improvement of quality of life of homeless people are suggested. Only a few studies have been conducted to delve into the quality of life of the displaced group in Korea. In such a context, the significance of this study lies in identifying the circumstances of the homeless as a basic work for upgrading their quality of life on the one hand, and in empirically testing the major predictors of each domain of their quality of life on the other.

본 연구에서는 한국판 세계보건기구 삶의 질 척도 단축형(WHOQOL-BREF)을 사용하여 우리 사회의 대표적 빈곤층인 노숙자들이 자신의 삶의 질을 어떻게 평가하며, 또 이들의 삶의 질에 어떤 요인들이 영향을 미치는가를 살펴보았다. 연구의 대상은 20세 이상 된 185명의 노숙자이며, 조사기간은 2003년 9월 18일부터 27일까지 10일간이었다. 연구결과, 노숙자의 삶의 질이 낮다는 것이 실증적으로 확인되었다. 또한 삶의 질 하위영역별로 예측요인이 다소 다르긴 하지만, 이들의 삶의 질에 영향을 미치는 요인으로 연령, 공공부조 수급, 인지된 건강상태, 음주, 알코올중독, 거주형태, 타인의 인정이 중요하게 나타났다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로, 노숙자의 삶의 질 향상을 위하여 주거최우선정책이 필요함을 강조하였고, 알코올중독 문제와 노숙자에 대한 사회적 편견 해소를 위한 대책방안에 대해서도 논의하였다.