Life Trajectories and Drinking Culture among the Homeless: Structural Vulnerability and Adaptive Strategies in Khon Kaen Province
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Abstract
This study aimed to explore the drinking culture of homeless people through the dimensions of time, space, and life trajectories, as well as to examine the relationships among structural vulnerability, social determinants of health, and everyday drinking practices. A qualitative research approach was employed, drawing on data from a survey of 45 homeless individuals, in-depth interviews with 20 key informants, participant observation, and Life History Calendars. Fieldwork was conducted between March 2024 and February 2026 among homeless people living in public spaces and shelters in Khon Kaen Municipality, Thailand.
The findings reveal that alcohol consumption among homeless people is shaped throughout the life course. Prior to homelessness, drinking was closely associated with family traditions, peer networks, and workplace culture. After entering homelessness, the meanings and functions of drinking shifted toward coping with stress, loneliness, and everyday insecurity. Alcohol also served as a medium for social interaction, group belonging, and adaptation to the challenges of homelessness. Furthermore, public spaces played a significant role in shaping this drinking culture by facilitating drinking networks, resource sharing, and mutual support among homeless individuals. These findings suggest that alcohol consumption is not merely an individual behavior but also part of a broader system of social relationships developed under conditions of deprivation.
This study argues that alcohol use among homeless people should not be understood solely as an individual deviant behaviour. Rather, it is a product of life trajectories, social determinants of health, and structural vulnerability. Drinking culture functions as a mechanism through which individuals adapt to and negotiate the social conditions they encounter. Therefore, addressing alcohol-related problems among homeless populations requires integrated interventions that combine housing security, employment opportunities, accessible health and mental health services, and inclusive social welfare policies in order to reduce health inequalities and improve quality of life.
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บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารมนุษยศาสตร์และสังคมศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยอุบลราชธานี
ข้อความที่ปรากฏในบทความแต่ละเรื่องในวารสารวิชาการเล่มนี้เป็นความคิดเห็นส่วนตัวของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านไม่เกี่ยวข้องกับมหาวิทยาลัยอุบลราชธานี และคณาจารย์ท่านอื่นๆในมหาวิทยาลัยฯ แต่อย่างใด ความรับผิดชอบองค์ประกอบทั้งหมดของบทความแต่ละเรื่องเป็นของผู้เขียนแต่ละท่าน หากมีความผิดพลาดใดๆ ผู้เขียนแต่ละท่านจะรับผิดชอบบทความของตนเองแต่ผู้เดียว
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