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Exploring risk factors for developing occupational ill health – departing from an occupational perspective
Halmstad University, School of Health and Welfare, Centre of Research on Welfare, Health and Sport (CVHI). Region of Sörmland, Nyköping, Sweden; Centre for Clinical Research S€ormland, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0037-2504
Halmstad University, School of Health and Welfare, Centre of Research on Welfare, Health and Sport (CVHI).ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8987-5975
Halmstad University, School of Health and Welfare, Centre of Research on Welfare, Health and Sport (CVHI). Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5865-2632
2022 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, ISSN 1103-8128, E-ISSN 1651-2014, Vol. 29, no 5, p. 363-372Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Sick leave due to stress-related mental ill health increases in society. In occupational therapy, occupational balance is considered important for experiencing health and well-being. Thus, knowledge regarding occupational balance and occupational value constitute essential parts of occupational therapists’ work with people suffering from occupational ill health.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between sociodemographic factors, occupational value, occupational balance and perceived health in people suffering from occupational ill health.

Methods: In a quantitative cross-sectional study data from a total of 218 individuals were included, 192 women, 22 men and 4 individuals who did not specify their gender. Data were collected by means of surveys prior to an occupational therapy intervention. The instruments used included OVal-pd, OBQ, EQ5D and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were analysed using regression and decision tree analysis.

Results: The results show that individuals who experience an imbalance in their everyday life and who have few or no experiences of daily occupations imprinted by socio-symbolic occupational value experienced lower perceived health.

Conclusions: Low level of experiences of balance in daily life and occupational value seems to be the main risk factors for the development of occupational ill health, rather than sociodemographic factors. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
London: Informa Healthcare, 2022. Vol. 29, no 5, p. 363-372
Keywords [en]
Mental illness, occupational therapy, occupational value, occupational balance, perceived health, stress-related illness
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-46056DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2021.1936160ISI: 000668004700001PubMedID: 34184961Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85131509098OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hh-46056DiVA, id: diva2:1617829
Note

Funding: Region Sörmland, Lund University and Halmstad University

Available from: 2021-12-07 Created: 2021-12-07 Last updated: 2025-10-01Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Navigating everyday life to promote occupational health – from an individual, group and organisational perspective
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Navigating everyday life to promote occupational health – from an individual, group and organisational perspective
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

With the upcoming challenges of an aging population, it is crucial that individualsof working age experience good health and can work and contribute to society.Occupational ill health is a widespread issue in Sweden with many negative effectsboth on an individual, group, and societal level. Therefore, it is important to gainmore knowledge on what is causing this ill health and, more so, how occupationalhealth can be promoted.The overall aim of this thesis was to broaden the knowledge regarding what isneeded to promote occupational health in everyday life, including paid work,within the working population. In Study I, the aim was to analyse the relationshipsbetween sociodemographic factors, occupational value, occupational balance, andperceived health in people suffering from occupational ill health to explore themain risk factors for developing occupational ill health. The results showed thathaving a low sense of occupational balance, followed by a low number ofoccupations that had a high level of socio-symbolic values, were stronglyconnected to experiencing occupational ill health. Study II aimed to describe whatis needed to improve/regain a balanced everyday life, including paid work,described by individuals who had/were experiencing occupational ill health. Theresults illustrated a highly relational process, where private life and work aredifficult to separate, presupposing balance in everyday life in multiple dimensions.Therefore, the individuals included in the study had to take control of theireveryday life as a whole. They needed to focus on structuring and prioritisingsocial interactions, boundary settings, and occupational meaningfulness. In StudyIII, the aim was to describe the individuals’ experiences of maintaining orregaining occupational health in everyday life, including paid work, two to fiveyears after participating in Study II. The results showed that “flex-ability” in theworkplace is crucial for regaining or maintaining occupational balance and healthin everyday life. The term flex-ability (flexibility + capability) refers to theindividual’s need to be open to change and adapt to new challenges, both at workand in everyday life, but also to be met with flex-ability from their surroundings.To understand employers' perspectives on this, Study IV aimed to describe how agroup of managers promote a healthy work environment and to what extent theyconsider their employees' everyday lives. The results showed the importance ofviewing health promotion as a shared responsibility for occupational health beyondthe workplace, which included: Handling a multifaceted responsibility, tweakingthe organisational culture, shaping supportive work conditions, and bridgingboundaries between private and working life. The overall results illustrate the needto understand how occupations in everyday life influence not only each other andour lifestyle, but also the overall experience of health. Promotion of health ineveryday life, including work, is a complex effort that involves navigatingmultiple, interwoven processes and roles. Central to this is the concept of perceivedoccupational balance, which this thesis identifies as a key component ofoccupational health. Therefore, it seems beneficial to value the concept ofoccupational health in the broader context of everyday life, as a whole.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Halmstad: Halmstad University Press, 2025. p. 66
Series
Halmstad University Dissertations ; 135
Keywords
everyday life, health, health promotion, occupational balance, work
National Category
Occupational Therapy Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy Rehabilitation Medicine Other Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-57238 (URN)9789189587885 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-09-25, S1022, Kristian IV väg, Halmstad, 10:34 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-08-26 Created: 2025-08-26 Last updated: 2025-10-01Bibliographically approved

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Karlsson, LouiseIvarsson, AndreasErlandsson, Lena-Karin

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