Parents in dual earner families with school-aged children report significant time constraints. Occupational balance refers to the distribution of time in various occupations in accordance with one’s values and it has been related to well-being. While occupational balance has been studied from an individual perspective, no study to date has taken a family perspective. This research explores the lived experience and meaning of occupational balance for dual earner parents and school-aged children. Multiple perspectives were obtained to capture family occupational balance as well as individual occupational balance. This research contributes to a greater appreciation of the complex phenomenon of occupational balance. Furthermore, it adds to the ongoing conversation in occupational science on the relational aspects of occupation. For this interpretive phenomenological research, semi-structured interviews were used with parents and photo-elicitation interviews with children. Four families were recruited, for a total of 18 participants. Additional methods of data collection included individual daily schedules and a family occupational map. Lived existentials and the dimensions of occupation were used as analytical frameworks to understand the phenomenon of occupational balance. Findings reveal that family occupational balance is experienced through the theme of togetherness and enacted in two occupations: the family dinner and family leisure. For adults and older siblings, individual occupational balance is experienced through refocusing on self as illustrated in intentional activities; while playing, feeling good and having fun was central to the experience of individual occupational balance in younger siblings. A reflection on these findings is provided through 3 essences of the experience of occupational balance in families: intention, restoration, and equity. Implications for occupational therapy and occupational science highlight the dynamic and relational aspects of occupational balance in families. Unique contributions include the 3 essences which are more evocative, discernable, and therefore more applicable to research and practice than the taken for granted phenomenon of occupational balance.

Syfte: Undersöka och beskriva aktivitetsbalans hos individer med högkänsligt personlighetsdrag. Metod: En kvantitativ enkätstudie genomfördes. Webbenkäten utformades efter Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11 [OBQ11]. Fyra bakgrundsvariabler lades till. Vid analys av data tillämpades en kvantitativ bearbetning. I studien deltog 203 högkänsliga individer. Resultat: De högkänsliga individerna skattade i genomsnitt låg aktivitetsbalans. Resultatet visade att det fanns en signifikant skillnad i skattad aktivitetsbalans mellan de individer som har barn mot de individer utan barn samt mellan de som bor ensam eller är sammanboende. Vissa delar av OBQ11 utmärkte sig mer då de visade lägre skattad aktivitetsbalans än andra. Inget samband mellan ålder och skattad aktivitetsbalans kunde urskiljas. Slutsats: Deltagarna i studien har en genomgående låg aktivitetsbalans. Mer forskning behövs för att undersöka kopplingen mellan arbetsterapi och högkänslighet. Däremot skulle arbetserapeuters kunskap om hur miljön påverkar en individ kunna vara till nytta för högkänsliga individer. / Aim: Examine and describe occupational balance in individuals with highly sensitive personality traits. Method: A quantitative questionnaire study was conducted. The web survey was designed according to Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11 [OBQ11]. Four background variables were added. In the analysis of data, a quantitative processing was applied. The study involved 203 highly sensitive individuals. Result: The highly sensitive individuals estimated an average low occupational balance. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the estimated occupational balance between the individuals who have children against the individuals without children and between those who live alone or live together. Some parts of OBQ11 excelled more as they showed lower estimated occupational balance than others. No relationship between age and estimated occupational balance could be discerned. Conclusion: The participants in the study have a consistently low occupational balance. More research is needed to investigate the link between occupational therapy and highly sensitive personality traits. On the other hand, occupational therapists' knowledge of how the environment affects an individual could be useful for highly sensitive individuals.

Bakgrund: Aktivitetsbalans är en subjektiv upplevelse som innefattar rätt mängd och rätt variation mellan aktiviteter. Att ha ett barn med NPF kan ha effekter på hur familjens vardagsrutiner utformas samt påverka föräldrarnas val och planering av aktiviteter. Syfte: Undersöka aktivitetsbalans hos föräldrar till barn med neuropsykiatrisk funktionsnedsättning, NPF, i åldrarna 6–12 år. Metod: En kvantitativ enkätstudie genomfördes. Webbenkäten utformades enligt Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) och varje fråga på ordinalskalenivå kompletterades med ett fritextsvar. Vid analys av data tillämpades en kvantitativ bearbetning och en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. I studien deltog 194 föräldrar. Resultat: Föräldrarna skattade sin aktivitetsbalans övervägande lågt. Resultatet visade även att det fanns en signifikant skillnad mellan föräldrarnas arbetssituation och antal barn med NPF. Däremot visade resultatet ingen signifikant skillnad om föräldrarna var sammanboende/gifta eller ensamstående. I studiens innehållsanalys identifierades tre kategorier: Omstrukturering av vardagen, Förälderns kontakt med samhällsinsatser och Den förändrade rollen som förälder. Slutsats: Föräldrarna har en genomgående låg aktivitetsbalans. För att bemöta föräldrarnas behov av stöd bör arbetsterapeuter utgå från ett helhetsperspektiv på familjen i arbetet med barn med NPF. / Background: Occupational balance is a subjective experience that includes the right amount and the right variation between activities. Having a child with NDD can have effects on how the family's everyday routines are organized and affect the parents' choice and planning of activities. Aim: Exploring occupational balance in parents to children with neurodevelopmental disorder, NDD, ages 6-12 years. Method: A quantitative survey was conducted. The web survey was designed according to the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) and each question at the ordinal scale level was supplemented with a free text response. When analyzing data, a quantitative processing and a qualitative content analysis were applied. The study had 194 parents participating. Result: Parents estimated their occupational balance predominantly low. The result also showed that there was a significant difference between the parents' work situation and the number of children with NDD. However, the result showed no significant difference if the parents were cohabiting / married or single. In the study's content analysis three categories were identified: Restructuring of everyday life, Parent's contact with social support and The changed role as a parent. Conclusion: The parents have a consistently low occupational balance. To address the parents' need for support, occupational therapists should proceed a holistic perspective on the family in the work with children with NDD.

Magister Scientiae (Occupational Therapy) - MSc(OT) / Background: One of the most significant current discussions in public health and occupational therapy is the challenges facing adults with chronic diseases. Adults living with chronic diseases experience challenges of activity limitations and occupational disruptions which may influence their health, quality of life and well-being. Chronic diseases seem to have implications for adults’ areas of occupation, client factors and performance patterns as well as performance skills. Spirituality is considered as important in the lives of adults living with chronic diseases as a coping strategy assisting them to deal with the challenges of life in relation to physical, social, emotional and functional well-being. Despite the importance of spirituality in adults with chronic diseases, there is little known about the relationship between spirituality, health-related quality of life and occupational balance among adults with chronic diseases in the Western Cape, South Africa. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between spirituality, healthrelated quality of life and occupational balance from the perspectives of adults living with chronic diseases. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed methods two phase design approach was used for the purpose of the study. Thus, to examine the perspectives and determine the relationship on spirituality, health related quality of life and occupational balance of adults living with chronic diseases. Furthermore, to explore and describe the perceptions of adults with chronic diseases regarding the relationship between spirituality, health related quality of life and occupational balance.

Rationale: Consumers of the mental health system with serious mental illness have been deprived of meaningful occupations since de-institutionalization began in the late 20th century.Community mental health policy has failed to focus on the meaningful occupational lives of this group of service users. Given the disparity in activity and meaningful time use for people with serious mental illness when compared to the general population, it is clear that a treatment that draws attention to occupational balance and engagement is needed. As balanced time use has been shown to increase community adjustment and life satisfaction, it is an important area of focus. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to pilot test the efficacy of a new occupational time use intervention, provisionally titled “Action over Inertia,” designed to increase occupational balance and engagement in the lives of people with serious mental illness living in the community. Methods: A prospective, multi-centre randomized controlled trial of the intervention, involving 5 Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams in southeastern Ontario,ran in Fall 2007/Winter 2008. 18 ACT clients took part in the 12 week intervention, which was delivered by the ACT team occupational therapists. Results: Time use, used as a measure of occupational balance, shifted away from sleep to increased general activity in the treatment group(p=0.05). Treatment and control groups did not differ on occupational engagement measures after the completion of the trial. Feedback on the clinical utility of the intervention was very positive from both therapists and treatment participants. Conclusions: This pilot test revealed initially positive data on the efficacy and clinical utility of the intervention.Further study of the “Action over Inertia” intervention is needed on a larger scale, potentially with a longer treatment timeline to further investigate its usefulness. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2008-09-22 14:36:47.279

Aktivitetsbalans innebär hur individen upplever sitt aktivitetsmönster, vilket är mängden av aktiviteter samt variationen av aktiviteter under en dag. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva hur individer med narkolepsi upplever aktivitetsbalans. Metod: En kvantitativ design användes med deskriptiv tvärsnittsstudie där data samlades in via enkät. Enkäten utgick från instrumentet Occupational Balance Questionnaire [OBQ] och innehöll 11 frågor med fyrgradig skattningsskala samt 4 frågor med fritextsvar. Det var 20 individer som deltog i studien varav 18 stycken är kvinnor och två är män. Deltagarna var mellan åldrarna 18- 56 år. Data analyserades med deskriptiv och analytisk statistik samt innehållsanalys då enkäten gav både kvantitativa och kvalitativa variabler. Resultat: Deltagarna skattade sin aktivitetsbalans som låg. Ingen signifikant skillnad på aktivitetsbalans mellan arbetande/studerande eller arbetslösa/sjukskrivna kunde visas i resultatet. Ingen signifikant skillnad av aktivitetsbalans kunde heller ses mellan ålder och kön på deltagarna, dock var majoriteten av deltagarna kvinnor. Den kvalitativa analysen resulterade i tre kategorier; brist av meningsfulla aktiviteter, aktiviteter som tar och ger energi och brist på vila, sömn samt återhämtning. Det centrala i alla kategorier var att deltagarnas brist på vila och återhämtning påverkar deras aktiviteter i stort och genomsyrar vardagen. Sociala sammanhang blev påverkade samt bortvalda då deltagarna inte hade energi att umgås med andra. Slutsats: Resultatet pekade på att individer med narkolepsi var i behov av mer stöd än det som ges i idag, stödet kan vara strategier och hjälpmedel. Därför finns ett intresse att fortsatt studera vilken typ av insatser eller strategier som kan möjliggöra aktivitet och en vardag i balans för denna grupp.

Magister Scientiae (Occupational Therapy) - MSc(OT) / Occupational justice empowers individuals, especially the previously disadvantaged, to have their basic needs met, as well as turn their potential into reality, through human rights and labour legislation, which provides access to equal opportunities. However, with the amount of different choices, in terms of occupational roles, facing the individual to fill their time with, effective management thereof to preserve one’s health and well-being on a daily basis, is not necessarily guaranteed. Occupational science, and more specifically, occupational therapy education imparts the importance of occupational balance, a concept which denotes a balance between the person, their environment and their occupations, some of which are strenuous and others relaxing. Occupational balance can be achieved by adapting the physical, mental, social and rests occupations.

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Gymnasieungdomar upplever mycket stress, främst på grund av studier. Den psykiska ohälsan bland ungdomar ökar och tjejer är betydligt mer stressade än killar. Stress kan påverka studiemotivationen negativt och kan leda till studieavbrott som försenar inträdet på arbetsmarknaden. Syftet var att kartlägga aktivitetsbalans och stress hos tjejer och killar på yrkesprogram inom gymnasiet. En kvantitativ studie i form av en enkätundersökning genomfördes med 50 respondenter på olika gymnasieskolor i södra Sverige. Spearmans rangkorrelationskoefficient (rho) användes för att analysera om det fanns något samband mellan aktivitetsbalans och stress. Majoriteten av respondenterna hade medelhög aktivitetsbalans (39) eller högre, det fanns ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad i aktivitetsbalans mellan könen. Det fanns en statistiskt signifikant skillnad i upplevd stress mellan könen, tjejer upplevde mer stress än killar. Det fanns ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan aktivitetsbalans och upplevd stress hos tjejerna men inte hos killarna. Att möjliggöra för ungdomar att bibehålla eller förbättra aktivitetsbalans kan vara ett sätt att främja och förebygga stress och annan psykisk ohälsa. / High school youths experience a lot of stress, mainly because of studies. The mental illness among young people increases and girls are significantly more stressed than boys. Stress can affect the study motivation negatively and can lead to interruptions that delay entry into the labor market. The aim of the study was to survey occupational balance and stress among girls and boys at vocational programs in high school. A quantitative study in the form of a survey was conducted with 50 respondents at various upper secondary schools in southern Sweden. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho)was used to analyze whether there was any relationship between occupational balance and stress. The majority of respondents had medium occupational balance (39) or higher, there was no statistically significant difference in occupational balance between the sexes. There was a statistically significant difference in perceived stress between the sexes, girls perceived more stress than boys. There was a statistically significant relationship between occupational balance and perceived stress in girls. To enable for young people to maintain or improve occupational balance can be a way to promote and prevent stress and other mental illness.