Quality of Life in Saskatoon 1991 and 1996: A Geographical Perspective

Abstract

Interest in the concept of "quality of life" (QOL) has increased exponentially in many areas of public policy. A constant theme in QOL research in the last 30 years has been a focus on the measurement and the types of indicators utilized. The objective of this paper is to identify the structure, spatial variation, and change in quality of life from 1991 to 1996 within Saskatoon, Saskatchewan by using a range of indicators relating to the social and physical environment, modified by perception. The QOL model used was developed by combining aspects of Cutter's (1985) geographical model of quality of life and Myers' (1987) community of quality of life model to assess QOL over time from a geographical perspective. The integration of objective, subjective and perceptual indicators, using a survey of Saskatoon residents, allowed for a broader interpretation of quality of life than is normally the case. The structure of QOL identified from the results of a series of principal component analyses consistently identified two important structures, structures of general affluence and general disadvantage. Results showed that the most disadvantaged residents in 1991 and 1996 were living to the west of the Central Business District, clustered in several neighborhoods, while residents enjoying a higher QOL tended to live in the suburbs toward the periphery of Saskatoon. [Key words: quality of life, socioeconomic indicators, principal component analysis, spatial analysis, urban planning.]

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