Time use of people with schizophrenia living in the community

The objective of this study was to describe the time use of people with schizophrenia living in the community in Japan. Time use of participants with schizophrenia was compared with people without schizophrenia. The time use of participants without a work-related routine was also compared with those with a work-related routine. As has been reported in other studies, persons with schizophrenia spend a significantly greater amount of time sleeping and resting than people without schizophrenia. However, participants with schizophrenia chose to participate not only in passive occupational categories but also in active occupational categories by selecting work, co-operative workshops, play, socialization and homemaking. Results also showed that having a work-related routine influenced time use. People with a work-related routine spent much time engaged in the work-related routines and in sleeping, and people without the routine spent much time sleeping, listening to music, watching TV, and reading magazines. The present study contributes to developing knowledge that supports occupational therapy practice focused on occupational choice including routine occupations to build a healthy life for people with schizophrenia living in the community. To explore further the relationship between time use and health, further research would be needed to study individual experiences in occupations. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.