Background: Meaningful everyday occupations are important for mental health and recovery and are provided by both community-based day centres (DCs) and clubhouses. It is unknown, however, if any of the two has more recovery-promoting features.
Objective: This nine-month longitudinal study compared DC and clubhouses, concerning the users' perceptions of unit and programme characteristics, and aspects of everyday occupations in terms of engagement and satisfaction. Stability over time in these respects, as well as motivation for participation and relationships with occupational engagement and satisfaction, were explored.
Methods: Participants from 10 DCs (n = 128) and 5 clubhouses (n = 57) completed self-report instruments.
Results: DC attendees rated lower levels on two organizational factors; choice and ability to influence decisions, and the unit's social network. Motivation showed to be an important factor for perceived occupational engagement, which did not differ between the two groups. DC attendees were more satisfied with their everyday occupations at baseline, but that factor increased more in the clubhouse group and there was no group difference at follow-up. The unit and programme characteristics and occupational engagement showed stability over time.
Discussion: Clubhouses seemed more advantageous and DC services may consider developing users' opportunities for choice and decision-making, and peer support.
Keywords: Mental health; occupational therapy; psychosocial rehabilitation.