Quality of life among people with psychiatric disabilities attending community‐based day centres or Clubhouses.

Background: People with psychiatric disability have been found to have a poorer quality of life (QOL) compared to the general population, and QOL is an important outcome from psychosocial rehabilitation. Aims: This study aimed at comparing users of two approaches to psychosocial rehabilitation in Sweden, community‐based mental health day centres (DCs) and clubhouses, regarding QOL. A further aim was to investigate predictors of QOL. Methods: People regularly attending DCs (n = 128) or clubhouses (n = 57) completed questionnaires at baseline and a 9‐month follow‐up about socio‐demographics, QOL, self‐esteem, social network, satisfaction with daily occupations, satisfaction with services and the unit's organisation. Results: Quality of life remained stable over time in both groups. QOL at follow‐up was associated with baseline self‐esteem, social network, satisfaction with daily occupations and QOL at baseline. The strongest indicator of a higher QOL at follow‐up was attending a clubhouse programme followed by having scored high on QOL at baseline. Conclusion: Both approaches were suited for supporting their users in maintaining QOL. Visiting clubhouses seems, however, advantageous for QOL in a longer‐term perspective. Although this study contributed some new knowledge, research should further address which circumstances are associated with maintaining stability in QOL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]