Reliability and validity of a measure of role functioning among people with psychiatric disabilities

The aim was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Socially Valued Role Classification Scale (SRCS), a domain-specific measure of role functioning designed for use with community residents with psychiatric disabilities. Test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, face validity, consumer and clinician acceptability and utility were examined.

Sixty community residents with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder participated in this study where the SRCS was administered by telephone.

Test-retest reliability showed good or very good agreement for subscale scores (intraclass correlations (ICCs): 0.78-0.89) and for items capturing amount of participation in domain-specific activities (ICC: 0.67-1.00). Greater variation was observed for items capturing assistance required with activities (κ: 0.40-0.75), and standard of activities performed (κ: 0.43-1.00). Concurrent validity was supported by moderate to very good associations in the directions expected. Face validity, user acceptability and utility in telephone interviews were adequate.

These findings add to previous psychometric evidence and support the continued development of the SRCS for use in community mental health settings. The SRCS has promising utility for occupational therapists involved in psychiatric rehabilitation outcome measurement.