ABSTRACT
Persons who experience homelessness are disproportionately affected by boredom. Research conducted in the past decade indicates that boredom is pervasive and profound in the lives of this population, both during and following homelessness, and that it imposes a serious, negative influence on psychosocial well-being. To date, this research has focused on state boredom and emphasizes that the social and institutional environments in which individuals are embedded during and following homelessness limit participation in meaningful activity. This chapter provides an overview of research conducted to date on boredom among persons with lived and living experiences of homelessness, presents a conceptual model of how boredom emerges and influences psychosocial well-being, and applies a social justice framework to situate the issue of boredom within a human rights framework. Future research needs to account for the role of trait boredom in the lives of persons experiencing homelessness and develop and evaluate intervention approaches aimed at mitigating boredom in the lives of this population. Research evidence related to boredom needs to be accounted for in the development of practice innovations and policy aimed at preventing and ending homelessness and mitigating the impacts of homelessness on the mental health of this population.
