On What Do the Homeless Base Their Happiness?
Metadatos
Afficher la notice complèteAuteur
Cano González, Yaiza; Portillo Sotelo, Carmen; Rodríguez del Águila, María del Mar; García Caro, María Paz; Núñez Negrillo, Ana María; Herrera Espiñeira, CarmenEditorial
MDPI
Materia
Homeless persons Happiness Personal satisfaction Anxiety Depressions Qualitative research
Date
2021Referencia bibliográfica
Cano‐González, Y.; Portillo‐Sotelo, C.; del Mar Rodríguez‐del‐Águila, M.; García‐ Caro, M.P.; Núñez‐Negrillo, A.M.; Herrera‐Espiñeira, C. On What Do the Homeless Base Their Happiness? Healthcare 2021, 9, 1512. https://doi.org/10.3390/ healthcare9111512
Résumé
Objective: To determine the relationship between the characteristics and experiences of
homeless persons and their state of happiness as a basis for designing appropriate social support
strategies. Design: Exploratory observational study with an analytical and descriptive qualitative
design. Setting: Participants were contacted, administered with questionnaires, and interviewed in
the street (central and northern areas of the city) or at the “Asociación Calor y Café” center in Granada
(Spain) between April 2017 and February 2018. Participants: Selected by intentional sampling, 25
participants completed questionnaires in the first study and 14 of these were administered with
questionnaires and interviewed in the second study. Method: General and specific questionnaires
were administered to determine the state of happiness and other variables. Descriptive statistics
were followed by an analysis of the relationships between variables and the content analysis of
semi‐structured interviews. Results: A feeling of happiness was described by 64% of participants
and confirmed by a happiness scale score of 50%. Participants who felt satisfied with their life were
4.5‐fold more likely to feel happy (p = 0.021). Expectations for the future were not associated with
happiness or satisfaction with life. Content analysis of interviews revealed three main themes:
conditions for happiness, own happiness/unhappiness, and self‐esteem. Conclusions: Many
homeless people describe themselves as feeling happy and satisfied with their life. Material aspects,
affective situations, daily life concerns, and self‐esteem predominate in their discourse on
happiness.