Occupation

1. Occupation An Exploration and Review

2. Theory of Human Nature (Wilcock)“We are born with a need to engage in occupation” People spend their lives engaged in purposeful “doing” even when free of obligation or necessity Allows us to demonstrate what we are or hope to become Humans need a novel way to pass time

3. Occupation Defined Patterns of culturally and personallymeaningful activity in which humans engage (Clark et al. 1991) Self-initiated, self-directed, adaptive and organized A purposeful form of human endeavor…it provides longitudinal organization of time and effort in a person’s life (Hagedorn) The dominant activity of human beings that includes serious, productive pursuits and playful, creative and festive behaviors. (Kielhofner)

4. Occupation (AOTA) Activities of everyday life “Named” Organized Given value and meaning (individually and/or culturally) Everything people do to “occupy” themselves Viewed as both a “means” and an “end”. Occupation vs. Activity Occupations are activities that have unique meaning and purpose in a person’s life Activities are more general classes of human actions

5. Key perspectives of Occupation (AOTA, 1997) Occupations have personal and specific meaning to a person This personal meaning is variable and involves many different dimensions The occupations that a person engages in helps to “define” that person Over time or situation, a person’s occupations are likely to change

6. Dimensions of Occupation Biological Dimension Temporal-Spatial Dimension Socio-cultural Dimension Psychological Dimension Spiritual Dimension

7. Biological Dimension The needs, drives, abilities and limitations of the person at the physiological level and at the organism level Occupation provides a mechanism for humans to fulfill needs for survival Upright walking, hand dexterity, communication, vision, socialization

8. Temporal-Spatial Dimension Time and space factors Length of occupation Participants sense of past, present and future The subjective experience of time Nature of the environment The immediate space

9. Socio-cultural Dimension Considers the relationship with others within the immediate social environment AND those that result from commonly valued behaviors of their culture

10. Psychological Dimension Refers to all the emotional and cognitive aspects of human occupation Example: happiness, ecstasy, joy, anger, bitterness, jealousy Cognition and Perception

11. Spiritual Dimension Understanding one’s “place” in the universe Making “meaning” through purposeful activity The essence of a person expressed in daily actions as influenced by values, belief systems and socio-cultural backgrounds Facilitates one’s acceptance of a greater reality One of the only functional domains likely to be intact and growing at the end of life Plays influential role in directing which activities are meaningful

12. Examining the Dimensions of Occupation choose an occupation Discuss how and if each of the 5 dimensions are reflected in each of your chosen occupations

13. Benefits of Occupation Promotes Learning Provides a Role Identity Involves use of the hands Challenges and changes the internal organism to promote adaptive responses Provides structure and integration of a person’s “wholeness” Provides balance and meaning Reduce awareness of physical or psychological symptoms Promotes recovery from illness and trauma

14. Health Varies according to: Culture Spiritual Philosophies Economy Technology Socially accepted theories Time World Health Organization Definition: • A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being not merely the absence of disease.

15. Well-being Defined as: A Subjective assessment of health which is less concerned with biological function than with feelings such as self-esteem and a sense of belonging through social integration

16. Physical Well-being Easiest to understand Internal need to make use of our physical capacities Increased use of alternative medicine in today’s world

17. Mental Well-being Associated with spiritual as well as cognitive factors Pre-requisites for well-being Associated with balance of occupations Reflective of coping skills Stress, Boredom, Burnout

18. Social Well-being Associated with satisfying interpersonal relationships, ability to interact happily and effectively with other people in cultural and social parameters without fear It is suggested that physical and mental well-being are dependent on social well-being

19. An introduction to occupational Science Somaya Malkawi, PhD October, 3, 2012

20. Introduction • Occupational science emerged from the early 20th century • Occupational therapy and science both focus on occupation but occupational science is an academic discipline • It studies the science of doing occupations and how it relates to the health and well being of the person

21. Occupational Science is: • It is the study of the human as an occupational being including the need for and capacity to engage in and orchestrate daily occupations in the environment over the lifespan. Because of the complexity of occupation occupational science synthesises knowledge from an array of disciplines (biological and social scineces)

22. Occupational science • It specifically focuses on the form, function and meaning of human occupation 3. Meaning, the Significant of Occupation within The context of real Lives and in the Culture 1. FORM Directly Observable Aspects of Occupations 2. Function Ways in which Occupation Serves adaptation

23. From of occupation • Refers to aspects of occupations that are directly observable • To study this aspect you would study how different cultures do things, eat, drink, dress…etc.

24. Function of occupation • Refers to the ways occupation influences development, adaptation, health, and quality of life • Ex. If you eat vs. how someone else feeds you reflects on your satisfaction and physical health

25. Meaning of occupation • It is the subjective experience of engagement in occupations • How does this occupation relate to this culture and what is its meaning

26. Historic relationship of occupational therapy to occupational science • Occupational therapy was there before occupational science • The early 1900s, when the core premise of OT was formulated • The 1920s, AOTA began making decisions about what is the base of knowledge for occupational therapy • The 1960s, when critical re-evaluation of the base of knowledge of occupational therapists was many new theoretical concepts were added • The late 1980s and 1990s, when occupational science was formally founded and academic curricula

27. Well-being and Incapacity Can people experience “good” health and well-being despite some form of incapacity? Terminology derived from Occupational Science

28. Occupational Justice • Addresses what people DO in their relationships and conditions for living • Humans have a need for occupation and should be enabled to engage in occupation • Occupational Risk Factors • Occupational Imbalance • Occupational Deprivation • Occupational Alienation

29. Health and Occupational Risk Factors Occupational Risk: Actions or lack of actions that lead to “pre-clinical” health disorders such as boredom, burnout, depression, increased blood pressure, decreased fitness…when can THEN lead to: Disease Disability Death

30. Occupational Imbalance • Balance between use of physical, mental, social capacities and rest • Associated with BOTH intrinsicand extrinsic factors • Boredom vs. Burnout (both are forms of stress!)

31. Occupational Deprivation • A state of prolonged preclusion from engagement in occupations due to factors which stand outside of the control of the individual • Implies the influence of some type of external(EXTRINSIC) force or agency that keeps a person from acquiring, using or enjoying something (vs. life in general) • Possible sources: • Technology, division of labor, lack of employment, poverty or affluence, cultural values, regulations, ill health or disability that results in limited participation

32. Occupational Deprivation cont’d. • Geographic Isolation • Problem conditions of unemployment • Incarceration • Refugeeism • Prisoners of War • Astronauts/Isolation

33. Occupational Disruption • Occupational Disruption • Temporary or transient • Results from factors internal to the person • Example: breaking your leg

34. Occupational Alienation • The belief that we have innate and natural needs but our society, culture, technology and evolution create a life that sometimes denies our ability to express those inner needs • More than just not being able to do something…. • More abstract than deprivation • ex. Steroids in sports, lack of face-to-fact communication, changing role of families with regards to activities/meals….

35. What type of occupational risk? Wall street broker who works, on average, 80 hours per week Child with active leukemia Young woman in middle eastern country who is forbidden to learn to read Single mother caring for four children including one special needs child Middle-aged divorced male living alone and unable to find any sort of employment Kind and compassionate physician working in a group practice that demands he see 40-50 patients per day and strongly discourages all interpersonal discussion or relationship building with the patients

36. Questions?