Life space is a composite measure of spatial movement through the environment using a modified version of the Life Space Questionnaire. The scale measures spatial movement in up to 6 specific zones within a participant's environment:
- bedroom
- porch/patio
- parking lot/yard
- in neighborhood
- outside of neighborhood
- outside of town
Participants are asked to report whether or not they have been in each of the zones in the past week (yes = 1 or no = 0). The life space score for each individual is the sum of the responses. Possible scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating larger life space.
Participants are asked the following questions:
In the past week, have you been to...
- other rooms of your apartment (or home) besides the room where you sleep?
- an area immediately outside your apartment (or home) such as your porch, deck, or patio, hallway or garage?
- an area outside your apartment building (or home) such as the courtyard, yard, driveway, or parking lot?
- places within your immediate neighborhood but beyond your own apartment building or property?
- places outside your immediate neighborhood, but within your own town or community?
- places outside your town or community?
Notes:
- Generally the replies reflect logic, so that the score will be the most extensive zone the person had been in.
- As soon as the response is no, all the remaining replies are taken to be no.