Development of the Daily Living Questionnaire (DLQ): A Factor Analysis Study

• Main Authors: Sara Rosenblum, Naomi Josman, Joan Toglia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Western Michigan University 2017-10-01
• Series: Open Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Subjects: activities; participation; cognitive impairments; assessment; executive functions
• Online Access: http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1326&context=ojot

Background: Performance of daily activities and participation in life events involves higher-level cognitive abilities. The purpose of this study was to develop a self-report scale for detecting everyday difficulties in activities/participation tied with higher-level cognitive deficiency and to examine its reliability and validity. Method: The Daily Living Questionnaire’s (DLQ) content and face validity were established. Internal consistency following an exploratory factor analysis, as well as construct validity, were initiated with a convenience sample of 194 healthy adults, aged 18 to 85 years, and 34 adults diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Results: The four factors received in Part A, activities and participation, explained 56.77% of the DLQ’s total variance, while the cumulative percentage of variance comprised of the three factors of Part B, cognitive symptoms or impairments, was 57.47%. High levels of internal consistency were demonstrated for both parts (.94 and .97, respectively). Construct validity was confirmed. While no significant gender differences were found, significant differences were found both between age groups and between participants with MS and controls. Implications: Initial results suggest that the DLQ is a valid tool for detecting difficulties in daily activities/ participation related to cognitive impairments among adults.