LEVEL AND CORRELATES OF PERCEIVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR LAO HMONG REFUGEES IN NEBRASKA
Author(s):
Meredith, William H.
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : The University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 1983.
Pages:
122
Language:
English
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived global quality of life and the sense of well-being for thirteen domains of life experience for Lao Hmong refugees in Nebraska. In addition, the study examined the relationship between the thirteen domains of life experience, four demographic variables, and Global Quality of Life. Four Hmong men interviewed 145 Hmong adults, the total number in the state. A questionnaire format was designed for this particular research project that allowed the largely illiterate Hmong adults to answer in a confidential manner. Analysis of the data revealed that the Hmong were mostly satisfied concerning their Global Quality of Life as well as with the majority of the domains of Life Experience. Family Life and Country were the highest rated domains, while Standard of Living and English were located on the dissatisfied end of the continuum. A statistically significant relationship was found between the level of perceived Global Quality of Life and twelve of the thirteen domains of life experience using Pearson Product Moment correlations. Only the domain of Neighborhood was not found to be related to Global Quality of Life. When correlations were placed into a stepwise multiple regression equation, the full explanatory power of 48.3% for the thirteen domains was shown to be achieved by using only Self, View of the Future, Country, Leisure and Life Control. The Self domain, alone, predicted 33.0% of the variance in the dependent variable. The use of one-way analysis of variance showed no significant differences among the demographic variables for perceived Global Quality of Life. The importance of Self and two related domains--Life Control and View of the Future--for predicting Global Quality of Life indicates that a positive view of self is fundamental to having a positive view of life quality. Satisfaction with one's life is related less to what exists or even one's perceptions of what exists but rather to how one views oneself.