Occupational scientists have offered various theoretical propositions regarding the dimensions of meaning derived from engagement in occupations, and empirical studies have explored the personal meaning of engaging in a wide range of occupations.
Purpose.
The study aimed to distil the dimensions of personal meaning from existing research, with a view to informing theory in this area.
Method.
A qualitative metasynthesis of research studies was conducted, focusing on research reporting individuals’ accounts of the personal meaning of an occupation to them. Twenty papers met the search criteria and were reviewed, rated for quality, analyzed, and synthesized following a process of meta-aggregation.
Findings.
There were four common dimensions of personal meaning: a sense of fulfilment; a sense of restoration; social, cultural, and intergenerational connection; and identity shaping.
Implications.
This review provides occupational therapists with sound evidence of the link between engagement in a meaningful occupation and a sense of personal and social well-being.
*AguilarA.BoeremaC.HarrisonJ. (2010). Meanings attributed by older adults to computer use. Journal of Occupational Science, 17, 27–33. doi:10.1080.14427591.2010.9686669
2.
*BeaganB. L.D’SylvaA. (2011). Occupational meanings of food preparation for Goan Canadian women. Journal of Occupational Science, 18, 210–222. doi:10.1080/14427591.2011.586326
3.
*BoeremaC.RussellM.AguilarA. (2010). Sewing in the lives of immigrant women. Journal of Occupational Science, 17, 78–84. doi:10.80/14427591.2010.9686678
4.
CampbellR.PoundP.MorganM.Daker-WhiteG.BrittenN.PillR.DonovanJ. (2011). Evaluating meta-ethnography: Systematic analysis and synthesis of qualitative research. Health Technology Assessment, 15, 43. doi:10.3310/hta15430
5.
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. (2009). Systematic reviews: CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. York, UK: University of York. Retrieved fromhttps://www.york.ac.uk/media/crd/Systematic_Reviews.pdf
6.
ChristiansenC. (1999). Definite lives: Occupation as identity: An essay on competence, coherence and the creation of meaning. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 547–556. doi:10.5014/ajot.53.6.547
7.
ChristiansenC. (2004). Occupation and identity: Becoming who we are through what we do. In ChristiansenC. H.TownsendE. A. (Eds.), Introduction to occupation: The art and science of living (pp. 121–139). Thorofare, NJ: Prentice Hall.
8.
CsikszentmihalyiM. (1992). Flow: The psychology of happiness. London, UK: Rider.
9.
*EidevallK.LeufstadiusC. (2014). Perceived meaningfulness of music and participation in a music group among young people with physical disabilities. Journal of Occupational Science, 21, 130–142. doi:10.1080/14427591.2013.764817
10.
ElliotM. L. (2011). Being mindful about mindfulness: An invitation to extend occupational engagement into the growing mindfulness discourse. Journal of Occupational Science, 18, 366–376. doi:10.1080/14427591.2011.610777
11.
*GarciT.MandichA. (2005). Going for gold: Understanding elite level wheelchair basketball athletes. Journal of Occupational Science, 12, 170–175. doi:10.1080/14427591.2005.9686560
12.
*HainesC.SmithT. M.BaxterM. F. (2010). Participation in risk-taking occupation of skateboarding. Journal of Occupational Science, 17, 239–245. doi:10.1080.14427591.2010.9686701
13.
HammellK. W. (2004). Dimensions of meaning in the occupations of daily life. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, 296–305. doi:10.1177/000841740407100509
14.
HammellW. H. (2009a). Sacred texts: A sceptical exploration of the assumptions underpinning theories of occupation. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76, 6–13. doi:10.1177/000841740907600105
15.
HammellK. W. (2009b). Self-care, productivity, and leisure, or dimensions of occupational experience? Rethinking occupational “categories.”Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76, 107–113. doi:10.1177/000841740907600208
16.
HammellK. W. (2014). Belonging, occupation, and human well-being: An exploration. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 81, 39–50. doi:10.1177/0008417413520489
17.
*HannamD. (1997). More than a cup of tea: Meaning construction in an everyday occupation. Journal of Occupational Science Australia, 4, 69–74. doi:10.1080/14427591.1997.9686423
18.
HasselkusB. R. (2011). The meaning of everyday occupation (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: Slack.
19.
HendersonR.RheaultW. (2004). Appraising and incorporating qualitative research in evidence-based practice. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 18, 35–40.
20.
HinojosaJ.KramerP. (1997). Statement: Fundamental concepts of occupational therapy: Occupation, purposeful activity and function. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51, 864–866. doi:10.5014/ajot.51.10.864
21.
HitchD.PepinG.StagnittiK. (2014a). In the footsteps of Wilcock, part one: The evolution of doing, being, becoming and belonging. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28, 231–246. doi:10.3109/07380577.2014.898114
22.
HitchD.PepinG.StagnittiK. (2014b). In the footsteps of Wilcock, part two: The interdependent nature of doing, being, becoming and belonging. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 28, 247–263doi:10.3109/07380577.2014.898115
23.
*HoppesS.WilcoxT.GrahamG. (2001). Meanings of play for older adults. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 18, 57–68. doi:10.1080/J148v18n0304
24.
HowellD.PierceD. (2000). Exploring the forgotten restorative dimension of occupation: Quilting and quilt use. Journal of Occupational Science, 7, 68–72. doi:10.1080/14427591.2000.9686467
25.
IkuiguM. N.HoymeA. K.MuellerB. A.RochelleR. R. (2015). Meaningful occupation clarified: Thoughts about the relationship between meaningful and psychologically rewarding occupations. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45, 47–50. doi:10.17159/2310-3833/2015/v45no1a8
26.
*JacobC.GuptillC.SumsionT. (2009). Motivation for continuing involvement in a leisure based choir: The lived experiences of university choir members. Journal of Occupational Science, 16, 187–193. doi:10.1080.14427591.2009.9686661
JonssonH. (2008) A new direction in the conceptualization and categorization of occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 15, 3–8. doi:10.1080/14427591.2008.9686601
29.
PierceD. (2001). Occupation by design: Dimensions, therapeutic power and creative processAmerican Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 249–259. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.3.249
30.
PierceD. (2012). The 2011 Ruth Zemke Lecture in Occupational Science: Promise. Journal of Occupational Science, 19, 298–311. doi:10.1080.14427591.2012.667778
31.
PolatajkoH. J.BackmanC.BaptisteS.DavisJ.EftekharP.HarveyA.JarmanJ.…Connor-SchislerA. (2013). Human occupation in context. In TownsendE. A.PolatajkoH. J., Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being, and justice through occupation (2nd ed., pp. 37–61). Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE.
32.
PolatajkoH. J.DavisJ.StewartD.CantinN.AmorosoB.PurdieL.ZimmermanD. (2013). Specifying the domain of concern: Occupation as core. In TownsendE. A.PolatajkoH. J., Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being and justice through occupation (2nd ed., pp. 13–36). Ottawa, ON: CAOT Publications ACE.
33.
*PollanenS. (2013). The meaning of craft: Craft makers’ descriptions of craft as an occupation. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 20, 217–227. doi:10.3109/11038128.2012.725182
RebeiroK. L.DayD.SemeniukB.O’BrienM.WilsonB. (2001). Northern Initiative for Social Action: An occupation based mental health program. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 55, 493–500. doi:10.5014/ajot.55.5.493
36.
*RobertsA. E. K.FarrugiaM. D. (2013). The personal meaning of music making to Maltese band musicians. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76, 94–100. doi:10.4276/030802213X13603244419275
37.
*SakuaeM.ReidD. (2012). Making tea in place. Journal of Occupational Science, 19, 283–291. doi:10.1080/14427591.2011.610775
38.
*SheererC. R.CahillL. G.KirbyK.LaneJ. (2004). Cake decorating as occupation: Meaning and motivation. Journal of Occupational Science, 11, 68–74. doi:10.1080/14427591.2004.9686533
39.
*ShordikeA.PierceD. (2005). Cooking up Christmas in Kentucky: Occupation and tradition in the stream of time. Journal of Occupational Science, 12, 140–148. doi:10.1080/14427591.2005.9686557
40.
*StephensonS. M.SmithY. J.GibsonM.WatsonV. (2013). Traditional weaving as an occupation of Karen refugee women. Journal of Occupational Science, 20, 224–235. doi:10.1080/14427591.2013.789150
41.
TaylorJ.KayS. (2013). The construction of identities in narratives about serious leisure occupations. Journal of Occupational Science, 22, 260–276. doi:10.1080/14427591.2013.803298
42.
*TzanidakiD.ReynoldsF. (2011). Exploring the meanings of making traditional arts and crafts among older women in Crete, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 375–382. doi:10.4276/030802211X13125646370852
43.
*UnruhA. M.ElvinN. (2004). In the eye of the dragon: Women’s experience of breast cancer and the occupation of dragon boat racing. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71, 138–149. doi:10.1177/000841740407100304
44.
*WattersA. M.PearceC.BackmanC. L.SutoM. J. (2013). Occupational engagement and meaning: The experience of Ikebana practice. Journal of Occupational Science, 20, 262–277. doi:10.1080/14427591.2012.709954
45.
*WensleyR.SladeA. (2012). Walking as a meaningful leisure occupation: The implications for occupational therapy. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, 85–92. doi:10.4276/030802212X13286281651117
46.
WilcockA. A. (1998). Reflections on doing, being and becoming. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65, 248–256. doi:10.1177/000841749806500501
47.
WilcockA. A. (2006). An occupational perspective of health (2nd ed.). Thorofare, NJ: Slack.
WrightJ.SadloG.StewG. (2006). Challenge-skills and mindfulness: An exploration of the conundrum of flow process. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health, 26, 25–32. doi:10.1177/153944920602600104
50.
WrightJ.SadloG.StewG. (2007). Further explorations into the conundrum of flow process. Journal of Occupational Science, 14, 136–144. doi:10.1080.14427591.2007.9686594
51.
*Wright St.ClairV.WannipaB.VittayakornS.RattakornP.HockingC. (2004). Offerings: Food traditions of older Thai women at Songkran. Journal of Occupational Science, 11, 115–124. doi:10.1080.14427591.2004.9686539
52.
YerxaE. J.ClarkF.FrankG.JacksonJ.ParhamD.PierceD.…ZemkeR. (1990). An introduction to occupational science: A foundation for occupational therapy in the 21st century. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 6(4), 1–17. doi:10.1080/J003v06n04_04
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
