Assessing occupational participation among justice-involved people ‘with a personality disorder’: Quantitative assessments and their properties

Abstract

Introduction: There is little evidence for what influences occupational participation for justice-involved people ‘with a personality disorder’ living in community contexts, and no validated occupational participation assessments specific to this group. We assessed a sample of justice-involved people ‘with a personality disorder’ to ascertain what influences occupational participation using commonly applied assessments and evaluated their construct validity. Method: As part of a mixed-methods study, a purposive sample of 18 justice-involved people ‘with a personality disorder’ were scored on the Model of Human Occupational Screening Tool and Occupational Performance History Interview–Version Two scales. Mean scores were calculated per Model of Human Occupational Screening Tool (MOHOST) item and Occupational Performance History Interview–Version Two (OPHI-II) items and scales and compared to published data. Mann–Whitney U Tests were used to identify within-sample differences based on demographic characteristics. Results: Participants had low scores on MOHOST items and OPHI-II items and scales. Differences were identified compared to published data. Within-sample differences were most apparent in comparisons by employment status and ethnicity. The OPHI-II scales did not operate as intended with this population and recommended adjustments impacted its construct validity. Conclusion: Replication is required with a larger random sample. Integrating these data with qualitative exploration would further elucidate factors influencing occupational participation in this population.