Comparing Individuals with and without Mental Illness Using the Daily Activities Checklist

Abstract

This study of the Daily Activities Checklist examined an aspect of construct validity, distinguishing differences between groups, specifically investigating differences in activity engagement in individuals with different types of mental illness (schizophrenia and mood disorders) and individuals without mental illness. The Daily Activities Checklist includes subscales of self-care, community living skills, socialization, and quality of performance. Individuals with schizophrenia (N=19), individuals with mood disorders (N=16), and individuals without mental illness (N=20) completed the Daily Activities Checklist every day for a one-week period. An ANCOVA with age as a covariate was used to examine differences in scores across the three groups. Individuals with mental illness scored lower than individuals without mental illness on the total score and all but one subscale of the Daily Activities Checklist. There was no difference between individuals with schizophrenia and individuals without mental illness on the quality subscale scores. Individuals with schizophrenia scored lower than individuals with mood disorders on the self-care subscale and the total score. These results support the usefulness of the Daily Activities Checklist in evaluating engagement in daily activities.