Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Predictors of Quality of Life in Economically Disadvantaged Populations in Montreal

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Most epidemiological studies agree that economically disadvantaged populations are the groups most vulnerable to mental health problems and report lower quality of life among these populations. However, it appears that access to social support plays a role in protecting against the chronic stress resulting from conditions such as poverty. This study is an attempt to clarify the relative contribution of social support to the quality of life of economically disadvantaged populations in two low-income neighbourhoods of Montreal. A random sample of 417 social assistance recipients were interviewed in the respondents’ homes. The Quality of Life scale used was the Satisfaction with Life Domains Scale. The availability of social support components was assessed using the Social Provisions Scale. Social support measures were entered into a multidimensional model that included a number of variables identified as having a relationship to mental health. Among the 17 variables included in a multiple regression analysis, emotional support and support providing reassurance of worth accounted for most of the variance in the QOL predicted by the model. Psychological distress also accounted for a fair amount of variance in QOL and younger people and people experiencing food insecurity showed a lower QOL.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson, M., Zibin, S., & Chuang, H. (1997). Characterizing quality of life among patients with chronic mental illness: A critical examination of self-report methodology. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker, F., & Intaglia, J. (1982). Quality of life in the evaluation of community support systems. Evaluation and Program Planning, 5, 69–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, F., Jodrey, D., & Intaglia, J. (1992). Social support and quality of life of community support clients. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 397–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barry, M. M. (1997). Well-being and life satisfaction as components of quality of life in mental disorders. In H. Katschnig, H. Freeman, & N. Sartorius (Eds.), Quality of life in mental disorders (pp. 31–42). Chichester, UK: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bijl, A., Ravelli, G., & van Zessen, G. (2003). Prevalence of psychiatric disorder in the general population: Results of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS). Health, 38(1), 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, R., Lavallée, M., Boucher, C. (1999). La détresse psychologique et le suicide chez les personnes en processus d’alphabétisation. Paper given to the 5th scientific day of the RSMQ. Quebec, June, 1999.

  • Boyer, R., Préville, M., Légaré, G., & Valois, P. (1993). La détresse psychologique dans la population du Québec non institutionalisée: résultats normatifs de l’enquête santé Québec. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, 38, 339–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown A. H. (1972). The city below the hill: A sociological study of a portion of the city of Montreal, Canada. Social History of Canada Series. Format: Microfiche (Illustrated), 116 pages, Publication Date: January 1972.

  • Caron, J. (1996a). Una teoria ecologica de la intervencion comunitaria: acceso y conservacion de los recursos. Intervencion psicosocial, 5(14), 53–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J. (1996b). L’Échelle de Provisions Sociales: la validation québécoise du Social Provisions Scale. Santé Mentale au Québec, 21(2), 158–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Latimer, E., & Tousignant, M. (2007). Predictors of psychological distress in low income populations of Montreal. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 98, 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Lecomte, Y., Stip, E., & Renaud, S. (2005a). Predictors of quality of life in schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal, 41(4), 399–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., & Liu, A. (2010a). A descriptive study on the prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders in the Canadian population: Comparison between low-income and non low-income populations. Chronic Diseases in Canada, 30(3), 87–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., & Liu, A. (2010b). Predictors of psychological distress in the Canadian population: A comparison of low-income and non low-income populations. Community Mental Health Journal. Online First™, 28 April 2010. doi:10.1007/s10597-010-9306-4.

  • Caron, J., Mercier, C., Diaz, P., & Martin, A. (2005b). Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of quality of life in patients with schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorders. Psychiatry Research, 137, 203–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Mercier, C., Martin, A., Stip, E. (2005c). Le rôle du soutien social, du fardeau familial et de la satisfaction des services dans la détresse psychologique et la qualité de vie des familles de personnes atteintes de schizophrénie. Santé mentale au Québec, 30(2), 165–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Mercier, C., & Tempier, R. (1997). L’Échelle de Satisfaction des Domaines de la Vie: la validation québécoise du Satisfaciton with Life Domain Scale. Santé Mentale au Québec, 22(2), 195–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron, J., Tempier, R., Mercier, C., & Leouffre, P. (1998). Components of social support and Quality of life, in long term psychiatric patients, in low income individuals and in general population. Community Mental Health Journal, 34(5), 459–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carpinielo, B., Pariante, C. M., & Rudas, N. (1997). Symptoms, standards of living, and subjective quality of life: A comparative study of schizophrenic and depressed out-patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 89, 27–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalano, R. (1979). Health, behaviour and the community: An ecological perspective. New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, V. (2001). Low-income people, low-income places, and low-income health: The mediating role of social networks and social capital. Social Science and Medicine, 52(10), 1501–1516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P., Rabin, B. S., & Gwaltney, J. M., Jr. (1997). Social ties and susceptibility to the common cold. Journal of the American Medical Association, 277, 1940–1944.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B. H., & Underwood, L. G. (2000). Social relationships and health. In S. Cohen, L. G. Underwood, & B. H. Gottlieb (Eds.), The provisions of social support measurement and intervention (pp. 3–25). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coyle, S. B. (2009). Health-related quality of life of mothers: A review of the research. Health Care for Women International, 30, 484–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. (2000). Objective and subjective quality of life: An interactive model. Social Indicators Research, 52, 55–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. (2002). Subjective well-being from rich and low-income. In W. Glatzer (Ed.), Rich and low-income: Disparities, Perceptions, concomintants (pp. 137–156). Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1987). The provisions of social support and adaptation to stress. Advance in Personal Relationship, 1, 37–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1990). Type of social support and specific stress: Toward a theory of optimal matching. In B. R. Sarason, et al. (Eds.), Social support an interactional view. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Defrances, C. J. (1996). The effects of racial ecological segregation on Quality of Life: A comparison of middle-class blacks and middle-class whites. Urban Affairs Review, 31(6), 799–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dohrenwend, B. P. (1998). Adversity, stress, and psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyson, J., Cobb, M., & Forman, D. (1997). The meaning of spirituality: A literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26, 1183–1188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedli, L. (2000). A matter of faith: Religion and mental health. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 2(2), 7–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghate, D., & Hazel, N. (2002). Parenting in low-income environments: stress, support and coping. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves, H., González, D. A., Araújo, C. L., Anselmi, L., & Menezes, A. M. B. (2010). The impact of sociodemographic conditions on quality of life among adolescents in a Brazilian birth cohort: A longitudinal study. Revista Panamericana de Salud Publica, 28(2), 71–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamelin, A. M. (1999). L’insécurité alimentaire des ménages dans la région de Québec: une exploration. Doctoral dissertation. Université Laval, 1999.

  • Hansen, T., Slagsvold, B., & Moum, T. (2008). Financial satisfaction in old age: A satisfaction paradox or a result of accumulated wealth? Social Indicators Research, 89(2), 323–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilfeld, F. W. (1976). Further validation of a Psychiatric Symptom Index in a normal population. Psychological Reports, 39, 1215–1228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International literacy survey. (1995). Literacy, Economy and Society: Results of the first International Adult Literacy Survey database Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Statistics Canada 1995.

  • Jia, H., Moriarty, D. G., & Kanarek, N. (2009). County-level social environment determinants of health-related quality of life among US adults: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Community Health, 34(5), 430–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katschnig, H., Freeman, H., & Sartorius, N. (Eds.). (1997). Quality of life in mental disorders. Chichester, England: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawachi, I., & Berkman, L. F. (2001). Social ties and mental health. Journal of Urban Health, 78(3), 458–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, A., Olson, C. M., & Frongillo, E. (1995). Validation of the radimer/cornell hunger and food insecurity measures. Journal of Nutrition Education, 125, 2793–2801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy, B., Kawachi, I., Glass, R., & Prothrow-Stith, D. (1998). Income distribution, socioeconomic status, and self rated health in the United States: Multilevel analysis. British Medical Journal, 317, 917–921.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2006). Subjective well-being in mental health and human development research worldwide: An introduction. Social Indicators Research, 77, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, D., & Kawachi, I. (2007). US State-level social capital and health-related quality of life: Multilevel evidence of main, mediating, and modifying effects. Annals of Epidemiology, 17(4), 258–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koivumma-Honkanen, H.-T., Viinamäki, H., Honkanen, R., Transkanen, A., Antikainen, R., Niskanen, L., et al. (1996). Correlates of life satisfaction among psychiatric patients. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 94, 372–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, P. M., & Chang, V. W. (2010). Being low-income and coping with stress: Health behaviors and the risk of death. American Journal of Public Health, 98(5), 889–896.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. (1998). Marital status, gender, and subjective quality of life in Korea. Development and society, 27(2), 35–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A., Rachuba, L. T., & Postrado, L. (1995). Demographic influences on quality of life among persons with chronic mental illnesses. Evaluation and Program Planning, 18(2), 155–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehman, A. F., Slaughter, J. G., & Myers, C. P. (1992). Quality of life experiences of the chronically mentally ill. Gender and stages of life effects. Evaluation and Program Planning, 15, 7–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, K. A., Torsheim, T., Vollebergh, W., Richter, M., Davies, C. A., Schnohr, W., Due, P., Currie, C. (2010). National income and income inequality, family affluence and life satisfaction among 13 year old boys and girls: A multilevel study in 35 countries. Social Indicators Research. doi:10.1007/s11205-010-9747-8.

  • Luttik, M. L., Jaarsma, T., Veeger, N. J. G. M., & van Veldhuisen, D. J. (2006). Marital status, quality of life and clinical outcome in patients with heart failure. Heart and Lung, 35, 3–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mackenbach, J. (1997). Socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity and mortality in Western Europe. Lancet, 349, 1655–1659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mercier, C., Péladeau, N., & Tempier, R. (1998). Age, gender and quality of life in schizophrenia. Community Mental Health Journal, 34(5), 487–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G. C., & Athanasou, J. A. (1999). The effect of unemployment on mental health. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 72(1), 83–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pappa, E., Kontodimopoulos, N., Papadopoulos, A. A., & Niakas, D. (2009). Assessing the socio-economic and demographic impact on health-related quality of life: Evidence from Greece. International Journal of Public Health, 54(4), 241–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Turnbull, A., Turnbull, I. I. I., & Ruthorford, H. (2002). Impact of Poverty on quality of life in families with children disabilities. Exceptional Children, 68(2), 151–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearlin, L. I. (1999). The stress process revisited: Reflections of concepts and their interrelationships. In C. S. Aneshensel & J. C. Phelan (Eds.), Handbook of theory of mental health (pp. 395–416). New York: Kluwer Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Préville, M., Potvin, L., & Boyer, R. (1995). The structure of psychological distress. Psychological Reports, 77, 275–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pukrop, R., Shlaack, V., Möller-Leinkümle, A. M., Albus, M., Czernick, A., Klosterkötter, J., et al. (2003). Reliability, and validity of quality of life assessed by Short-Form 36 and the Modular System for Quality of Life in patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatry Research, 119, 63–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radimer, K. L., Olson, C. M., Greene, J. C., Campbell, C., & Habicht, J. C. (1992). Understanding hunger and developing indicators to assess it in women and children. Journal of Nutrition Education, 24, 36S–45S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarason, B. R., Sarason, I. G., & Pierce, G. R. (1990). Social support: An interactional view. NewYork: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selye, H. (1974). Stress sans détresse. Montreal: Édition La Presse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistic Canada. (2002). Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2: Mental health and well-being 2002. www.statcan.gc.ca/imdb…/5015-eng.htm.

  • Stephens, T., Dulberg, C., & Joubert, N. (1999). La santé mentale de la population canadienne. Maladies chroniques au Canada, 20(3), 118–126.

  • Stockdale, S. E., Wells, K. B., Tang, L., Belin, T. R., Zhang, L., & Sherbourne, C. D. (2007). The importance of social context: Neighborhood stressors, stress-buffering mechanisms, and alcohol, drug, and mental health disorders. Social Science and Medicine, 65(9), 1867–1881.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2001). Using multivariate statistics. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tousignant, M., & Caron, J. (2005). Quand le malheur frappe les bénéficiaires de la sécurité du revenu. Sur qui peuvent-ils s’appuyer? Santé mentale au Québec, 30(2), 85–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J., & Avison, W. R. (2003). Status variations in stress exposure: implications for the interpretation of research on race, socioeconomic status, and gender. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44, 488–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J., & Lloyd, D. (1999). The stress process and the social distribution of depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 40, 374–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, H. A., & Turner, R. G. (2005). Understanding variations in exposure to social stress. Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health Illness and Medicine, 9(2), 209–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R. J., Wheaton, B., & Lloyd, D. A. (1995). The epidemiology of social stress. American Sociological Review, 60, 104–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandiver, V. L. (1998). Quality of life, gender and schizophrenia: a cross-national survey in Canada, Cuba and USA. Community Mental Health Journal, 34(5), 501–511.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, C., Pichler, F., & Haye, B. C. (2007). First European Quality of Life Survey: Quality of work and life satisfaction. Dublin: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T. A., & Shinar, O. (2000). Measuring perceived and received social support. In S. Cohen, L. G. Underwood, & B. H. Gottlieb (Eds.), Social support measurement and intervention (pp. 86–135). New York: Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yanos, P. T., Rosenfield, S., & Horwitz, A. V. (2001). Negative and supportive social interactions and quality of life among persons diagnosed with severe mental illness. Community Mental Health Journal, 37(5), 405–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zavala, M. W., Maliski, S. L., Kwan, L., Fink, A., & Litwin, M. S. (2009). Spirituality and quality of life in low-income men with metastatic prostate cancer. Psycho-oncology, 18(7), 753–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zissi, A., Barry, M. M., & Cochrane, R. (1998). A mediational model of quality of life for individuals with severe mental health problems. Psychological Medicine, 28, 1221–1230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Support for this study was granted by the Canadian Population Health Initiative of the Canadian Institute of Health Information.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Jean Caron

  2. Psychosocial Division, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada

    Jean Caron

Authors
  1. Jean Caron
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean Caron.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Caron, J. Predictors of Quality of Life in Economically Disadvantaged Populations in Montreal. Soc Indic Res 107, 411–427 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9855-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9855-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation