Exploring occupational participation of older adults in rural contexts: A qualitative study using MOHO

Abstract

Introduction:

Older adults in rural settings face occupational challenges shaped by cultural, social, and structural factors. While previous research has explored rural ageing, fewer studies have examined these experiences through an explicit occupational framework such as the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). This study aimed to explore how older adults living in a rural community construct and interpret their everyday occupations through the lens of MOHO.

Method:

A qualitative phenomenological–interpretive design was used with seven adults aged 75–95. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically according to MOHO’s dimensions of volition, habituation, performance capacity, and environment.

Results:

Participation was closely tied to past roles and traditions, with routines often maintained more by inertia than by personal choice. While some participants continued activities such as reading, knitting, or caring for animals, others faced barriers including ageism, mobility loss, limited services, and weakened social networks. Occupational engagement emerged within a tension between persistence and renunciation.

Conclusion:

Rural ageing is profoundly conditioned by cultural and environmental circumstances that shape what is perceived as possible or legitimate to do. Viewed through MOHO, these findings offer a contextualized understanding of occupational participation in later life and may inform reflection on occupational therapy practice.