The DHS showed very good internal consistency ( Cronbach alpha = 0.738) and test-retest reliability ( Intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.892, p<0.001) as well as convergent and divergent reliability compared to other scales measuring habits. Item reduction based on factor analysis resulted in a scale with 38 items grouped into eight factors explaining 52.91% of the variance. We report here the development and validation of a Daily Habit Scale (DHS) to assess the frequency, automaticity, and strength of daily habits in healthy individuals. Habits are not only defined by the frequency with which a behaviour is performed but represent a complex construct that also includes the strength and automaticity of the habitual behaviour. They are difficult to control and mentally efficient, which contrasts with goal-directed behaviour, which is characterised by active thought, high computational effort, and the ability to modify this behaviour in response to a changing environment and contextual demands. Habits are defined as automatic behaviours triggered by cues and performed without awareness. 3Artificial Intelligence Lab, Faculty of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.2Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.1Department Clinical and Motor Neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Dejan Georgiev 1,2,3, Rosie Christie 1, Mariam Torkamani 1, Ruifeng Song 1, Patricia Limousin 1 and Marjan Jahanshahi 1*

Daily habits