OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research

Understanding the leisure perspectives of preadolescent boys with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) requires more than documenting time-use patterns. This study explored the use of the Personal Projects Analysis for Children (PPA-C) to improve depth of understanding about personally meaningful leisure participation for this population. Sixty boys with DCD and 113 boys without DCD completed the PPA-C. Boys with DCD reported significantly fewer personal projects involving physical activities; fewer friends with whom to complete personal projects; more solitary leisure projects; and fewer personally meaningful personal projects in total than the comparison group. The PPA-C findings provided ecologically sensitive and personally salient information about leisure time participation from the perspectives of boys with and without DCD. The low frequency of self-reported social and physical activity personal projects for boys with DCD has not been previously detailed in this way. Occupational therapists are challenged to be vigilant regarding restricted leisure portfolios and expectations about activity participation in boys with DCD, with further research and advocacy for balanced portfolios of personally meaningful leisure.

The purpose of this study was to compare the time use of mothers with adolescents with disabilities and mothers of adolescents without disabilities. Twenty mothers of adolescents (13 to 19 years old) with disabilities and 20 mothers of adolescents without disabilities completed time diaries for a period of seven 24-hour days. Mothers of adolescents with disabilities spent significantly more time in activities related to supervising their adolescents and less time in participation and socialization activities than mothers of adolescents without disabilities. As a child gets older, there is generally a decrease in the amount of time all mothers spend in childcare activities. However, mothers' occupations are impacted by having a child with a disability. Professionals working in partnership with families need to understand that the role of being a mother evolves as a child matures, and that a mother's time demands may impact the occupational engagement of all family members.

The aim of this study was to gain an enhanced understanding of how people with multiple sclerosis experience their occupational adaptation. Ten people with multiple sclerosis were interviewed and the constant comparative method was used to analyze the data. Their occupational adaptation was experienced as a constant struggle and non-linear, and served as the means of achieving either a desired self or a desired family life. Adaptations of occupations differed according to the evolving goals of the participants. The findings showed that the participants often selected occupational adaptations to meet their family needs over their own. These findings can help professionals to establish where their clients with multiple sclerosis are in the adaptation process and offer appropriate client-centered interventions.

The purpose of this study was to describe the time use and associated perceptions of performance, importance, and enjoyment for adults in treatment for obesity classified as severe. Adults (n = 128) from obesity treatment programs in Ontario, Canada, completed a survey that included the Occupational Questionnaire, a measure of the distribution and meaning of time use across occupations. Descriptive analysis and differences between groups based on obesity severity, age, and being limited by obesity were completed. Participants spent the most time in daily living activities and less time in work, recreation, and rest activities. Participants reported doing activities that they enjoy and perform well is important. The distribution of time across occupations for participants in this study is similar to that of adults living with chronic health conditions. No significant differences in time use and associated meaning were found between groups based on body mass index or being limited by obesity. More time was spent in work activities for participants aged 25 to 54 years. Obesity interventions that support participation in existing occupations and enable participation in recreation and rest occupations should be considered.

Rest is often acknowledged as an integral part of occupational therapy and occupational science, yet little is known about the experience of rest. This article arose from a question posed by the researchers during an earlier phenomenological study of women's experiences of adapting to osteoarthritis. A secondary analysis of the interview and focus group data from the initial study was conducted to answer the question, “How is rest experienced by these women with hip and knee osteoarthritis?” For these 11 women between the ages of 60 and 75 years, rest is a meaningful occupation that contributes to well-being and the achievement of occupational balance. Rest sometimes requires adaptation and is often enfolded with other occupations. Rest is described as different from sleep, which diverges from many classifications of rest in health frameworks. These findings suggest that rest is an important occupational experience and belongs in models of occupational therapy.

This study used a phenomenological approach to explore the relationship between habitual occupations and environmental features that can support aging-in-place with 10 community-dwelling older adults. In their respective interviews, participants were asked to consider community supports and other adaptations they used to maintain participation in response to changes as they grew older or encountered health difficulties. From the transcribed data, themes were identified using an open coding process and verified by an external peer auditor. Results underscore the inextricable link between older individuals, their environment, and maintaining participation in habits of meaning. Findings are discussed using a transactional model of occupation, namely dynamical systems theory. By using habits as the central focus, this study provides a unique opportunity to examine how key supports at a community level, including design of the physical environment and other policies, can promote continued participation in older adulthood.