Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Marshall, Carrie A.

Abstract

Background: The relationship between boredom and substance use remains unexplored among persons experiencing homelessness. Purpose: To generate an understanding of the relationship between boredom and substance use among unhoused individuals in high-income countries. Methodology: This thesis consists of two phases: 1) a scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework; and 2) a secondary analysis. Findings: In Phase I, I identified eight studies highlighting the dearth of literature on the topic of substance use and boredom among persons who experience homelessness. In Phase II, participants identified that boredom drives substance use during homelessness, and that supports are needed to mitigate this experience. Both studies emphasize the connection between boredom and substance use within this population. Implications: This research reveals that boredom contributes to substance use through numerous mechanisms and emphasizes the importance of addressing boredom as a means of reducing substance use and improving wellbeing among persons experiencing homelessness.

Summary for Lay Audience

Boredom is a prevalent issue among persons experiencing homelessness and has been associated with increased substance use. This substance use can exacerbate mental and physical health issues, leading to poorer overall health outcomes. Previous research has demonstrated associations between boredom and substance use, but there is limited focus on this relationship specifically among individuals who are unhoused. This thesis aimed to investigate how boredom relates to substance use in among persons experiencing homelessness. The first study, presented in Chapter 2, was a scoping review, which identified only seven studies that explored relationships between boredom and substance use among persons experiencing homelessness in interdisciplinary literature. None of these studies focused specifically on associations between boredom and substance use among persons experiencing homelessness. The second study, presented in Chapter 3, involved a secondary analysis of existing qualitative interviews designed to explore experiences of boredom in relation to substance use during homelessness. This analysis revealed that substances are often used to alleviate boredom in several ways. Participants reported using substances because they are readily available in the environments in which they were situated, because they helped them to form social connections, and because they provided a way to pass time when few other activities were available. Participants described how substances offered a temporary escape from negative thoughts when few opportunities were available to offer distraction. Further, participants identified that the substances that they used were relatively inexpensive compared with other activities that typically cost money to participate, thereby deepening participants’ reliance on substances for stimulation and distraction from trauma. My findings suggest that increasing access to meaningful activities for individuals experiencing homelessness could reduce substance use and improve quality of life. Future research should evaluate whether increased engagement in such activities may influence substance use. Service providers and organizations can use this information to develop better services that provide meaningful activities, potentially reducing drug and alcohol use and promoting healthier living among the those who are unhoused. Policymakers should consider implementing strategies that mitigate the disadvantage that persons experiencing homeless face regarding access to meaningful activities such as evidence-based models of income support.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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