Profiles of quality of life among residents in permanent supportive housing during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This study identified profiles of quality of life (QoL) deterioration among permanent supportive housing (PSH) residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hasn’t been reported on yet. Between November 2020 and April 2022, 231 PSH residents from Quebec (Canada) were interviewed. Patient profiles were identified with Cluster Analysis based on the participants’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and service use were compared (p < 0.05). Three QoL profiles were identified, with 62% of sample reporting QoL deterioration. Profile 1 (26% of sample) included middle-aged men living mostly in congregate PSH since 5 + years, having high social support, few health problems, and perceiving low deterioration of their health conditions and QoL. Profile 2 (44%) included residents living in PSH less than 2 years, with low social support, highly affected by serious mental disorders, few by COVID-19, perceiving deterioration of their mental health conditions and QoL. Profile 3 (30%) included younger residents living in congregate PSH for 2–5 years, with low social support, high health problems, and perceived deterioration of health conditions and QoL. The study underlined the importance of sustaining housing and care access in a pandemic context for individuals with the most unmet needs, more at risk of QoL deterioration.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality of life deterioration
• COVID-19 pandemic
• Permanent supportive housing
• Profiles
• Cluster analysis

Acknowledgements

Author contributions: MJF designed the overall research project and was responsible for data collection. LA and MJF designed the analytical plan for the article. LA produced the quantitative analyses and tables. LA, GG and MJF wrote the article. All authors approved the final version of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

In accordance with the applicable ethics regulations for the province of Quebec, the principal investigator is responsible for keeping data confidential.

Ethical approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The multisite study protocol was approved by the research ethics board of the Douglas Mental Health Institute.

Consent to participate

All study participants signed a consent form before doing the interview and were told that their responses would remain confidential.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Project #8400900.

Notes on contributors

Lia Gentil

Lia Gentil is postdoctoral researcher at the Douglas Hospital Centre.

Guy Grenier

Guy Grenier is research associate at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre.

Marie-Josée Fleury

Marie-Josée Fleury is professor at the Department of Psychiatry of the McGill University and researcher at the Douglas Hospital Research Centre.