Quality of life: key to
social equity?
An Emerald mission in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Quality of life refers to the well-being of individuals and populations at a specific point in time. At the individual level, quality of life encompasses a wide range of factors, including interpersonal relations, social connectedness, work-life balance, and physical and mental health. Quality of life in this regard involves a subjective evaluation of one’s ability to participate fully in society and express a sense of personal fulfilment.
At the population level, quality of life refers to overall wellbeing. It’s a broader measure than individual quality of life focusing on factors that impact on the entire community.
Key components include:
- Public health
- Education
- Employment
- Environmental
- Rghts and access to essential services.
Quality of life in this regard is essentially a snapshot of how well a population is living and thriving collectively.
In her keynote blog, Wendy Purcell, Goal Advisor for Fairer Society, makes a powerful and persuasively argument that quality of life [as] a right for all people – [is] the ultimate outcome goal of a fairer society.
The multi-dimensional nature of the concept therefore invites engagement from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. It also encourages us to consider the relationship between quality of life as a subjective concept and the objective pursuit of a fairer society.
On this page
- Keynote blog: A fairer society means quality of life for all
- Featured blogs
- Section 1: Free access to our articles
- Section 2: Different routes to publication
- Section 3: Additional information
- Talk to us about your work
- Mission-led research – our goals
If you’d like to contribute or have research relating to the discussion, we’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch with us.
This mission is aligned with our Fairer society goal
Keynote blog
A fairer society means quality of life for all
Keynote blog by Goal Advisor - Wendy Purcell, Rutgers University, Boston, United States
Here, we explore what quality of life brings to our consideration of a fairer society. How might our thinking change, our priorities adapt, and our attention be guided to what really matters in creating a world that takes everyone forward when we adopt quality of life as our lens?
Free access to our articles
Different routes to publication
If you would like to contribute to the discussion, take a look at our different routes to publication and contact us to get involved.
Additional information
Exploring Health-Related Quality of Life of Adult Syrian Refugees in Za’atari Camp in Jordan
View the infographic to find out more (PDF)
Article: “Safety and security are everything”: A qualitative study on the quality of life of Syrian refugees living in Za’atari camp
Authors: Aaliyah M. Momani, Hamza Alduraidi, Abeer Zaghmouri
Journal: International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care
Exploring Health-Related Quality of Life of Adult Syrian Refugees in Za’atari Camp in Jordan
Za’atari refugee camp, the largest in Jordan, houses 10.6% of all Syrian refugees, who face significant health concerns, and psychological and social problems
Understanding their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is crucial for effective public health interventions and policies
Study question:
What are the HRQoL domains of an adult Syrian refugee residing in Jordan Za’atari camp?
Methods section:
A constructivist grounded theory approach
- Syrian refugees (>18 years) residing in Za’atari camp
- Semi-structured, face-to-face, audio-recorded interviews
- Domain explored:
- Physical health
- Psychological health
- Social relationships
- Environment
Result section:
Core theme: Pursuing safety and security
- Life in the refugee camp
Despite the lack of material comforts in refugee camps, residents are thankful for the safety of their family - Meaning of safety and security
Safety and security are fundamental requirements of every human, above all material comforts, and their absence changes families’ priorities
Social implications
- Need international commitment to protect the health, safety, and security of refugees
- Establish physical and mental health services inside camps
Key message:
The fundamental factor that Syrian refugees residing in Jordan seek is the safety and security to pursue a normal life without fear
Footer:
“Safety and security are everything”: A qualitative study on the quality of life of Syrian refugees living in Za’atari camp
Momani, Alduraidi, and Zaghmouri (2023)
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care | DOI: 10.1108/IJMHSC-01-2023-0003
@EmeraldFairSoc
https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/our-goals/fairer-society
Podcast: Capitalism, health and wellbeing with Rob Noonan
Is there a reluctance to address the impact of capitalism on health and wellbeing? Listen to this thought-provoking podcast where Rob Noonan confronts this overlooked issue head-on, challenging the prevailing focus on economic growth.
Find out more and read the transcript
Book by Rob Noonan: Capitalism, Health and Wellbeing Rethinking Economic Growth for a Healthier, Sustainable Future
Talk to us about your work
We really welcome insights not only from researchers but practitioners too about their work.
If you would like to contribute to the discussion, or you are working on research in areas related to quality of life and social equity, please let us know by filling in this form.
