Vielfalt in der Arbeitswelt

Anyone involved in occupational science or diversity management will notice that diversity in the world of work is being perceived and analysed in an increasingly nuanced way. This involves various dimensions of diversity in different functions, company sizes and industries. This volume brings together various contributions, all of which deal with diversity in the world of work. They address unconscious bias in personnel selection, introverts in leadership situations, sensation seekers in organisations, the motivation of employees in the gig economy, female leaders in middle management, and diversity as an organisational imperative.

Exploring occupation in recovery from bulimia nervosa: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Introduction Recovering from bulimia nervosa challenges a person to learn, revise, and do occupations that contribute to rather than detract from health. This study utilized Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to (a) explore the recovery experiences of six adult women with histories of bulimia nervosa and (b) interpret how their accounts reflected the assumptions and characteristics of occupation. Methods Data were collected via audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews. Data analysis within and between cases identified six superordinate themes, which included interpretation in terms of criteria of occupation. Findings Superordinate themes reflect (1) occupation emerged in recovering from bulimia nervosa through committed action, not doing what fueled bulimia nervosa, adopting new ways of living, prioritizing self-care, connecting with others, and creating supportive environments and (2) recovery from bulimia nervosa can be construed as an occupation. Conclusion This study provides insight into nuances of recovery from bulimia nervosa. Results offer novel implications distinct to an occupational therapy lens, for example, consideration of self-care beyond eating and meal preparation; modification of the home, work, and social environment; and setting goals associated with not doing versus doing. Further, the interpretative finding of recovery as occupation holds implications for the evolving philosophical considerations within occupational science and therapy.

The Concept of Oppression and Occupational Therapy: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

Background. Occupational therapy and occupational science literature include growing attention to issues of justice, marginalization, and rights. In contrast, the concept of oppression has scarcely been employed. Purpose. This paper investigates how adding the concept of oppression may enhance occupational therapy approaches to injustice, prioritizing a focus on structural causes, and facilitating conscientious action. Method. A critical interpretive synthesis explored insights from authors who name oppressions in occupational therapy and occupational science literature. In total, a sample of 28 papers addressing oppression, ableism, ageism, classism, colonialism, heterosexism, racism, and/or sexism was selected for inclusion. Findings. Four themes were identified: oppression and everyday doing; effects of structures and power; responding and resisting; and oppression within occupational therapy. Implications. Incorporating oppression within the plurality of social discourse may help occupational therapists to avoid individualistic explanations, attend to relationships between social structures and constrained occupations, frame intersectional analysis, and engage in praxis.

What does well-being mean to mental health peer workers?

Purpose This paper aims to gain a detailed understanding of their experience of well-being from the perspective of mental health peer workers. Design/methodology/approach An interpretative phenomenological analysis design using semi-structured interviews was conducted with four peer workers. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and then analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Participants described their experience of well-being in terms of a journey over time that followed an unpredictable course. They understood their well-being in terms of their engagement in occupations. An occupational science framework was used to understand the participants’ experience of their well-being in terms of doing, being and becoming. Originality/value This paper is among the first to approach the exploration of the experience of well-being for peer workers using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis design.

Occupational Science Concepts Essential to Occupation-Based Practice: Development of Expert Consensus

Importance: What occupational science (OS) knowledge may be essential to occupational therapy practice has not been systematically explored. Objective: To identify and gain expert consensus on OS concepts viewed as essential to occupational therapy practice. Design: A complex, convergent mixed-methods Delphi design with an international panel of OS experts randomly assigned to two parallel groups. In Round 1, each group generated OS concepts; in Rounds 2 and 3, they rated the degree to which each concept was essential to occupational therapy. Data were analyzed separately for each group. A fourth round combined the two groups and used carefully merged concept definitions from both groups to validate consensus on essential concepts arising from the prior rounds. Participants: Fifty-two nominated experts from 22 countries who met a priori criteria participated in the 14-mo study. Results: Of 62 experts invited, 52 (Group A = 24, Group B = 28) participated in the first round, and 42 (81%) completed the full-group final round. Eleven concepts met the consensus threshold (≥70%) established for the study. Additional analysis compared parallel- and full-group results to carefully discern conceptual similarities and differences, especially with near-consensus concepts. Conclusions and Relevance: Substantial expert agreement was established for several OS concepts viewed as essential, providing a basis for future studies to refine the concepts for occupational therapy education and practice. What This Article Adds: The results of this research provide a systematically derived preliminary basis for selecting OS content for occupational therapy educational programs and preliminary concepts for organizing OS knowledge germane to occupational therapy practice.

Licht ins Dunkel bringen – Dark Side of Occupation

Drogen nehmen, sexuelle Dienstleistungen anbieten oder containern gehen – diese Betätigungen gehören zu den „Dark Occupations“, die für Ergotherapie und Occupational Science bisher eher im Verborgenen lagen. Erweitern Sie Ihr Bewusstsein für Betätigungen, bei denen die Gesundheitsförderung nicht immer wie gewohnt im Vordergrund steht.

Auf das WIE kommt es an – Mindful Occupation

Während wir handeln, können wir in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß präsent, bewusst, engagiert oder erfüllt sein und uns mehr oder weniger wohlfühlen. All diese Aspekte spielen eine Rolle, wenn es um „Mindful Occupation“ geht. Also um die Frage, wie achtsam wir uns betätigen. Der Artikel beschäftigt sich mit dem aktuellen Wissens- und Erkenntnisstand zu diesem Konstrukt und beleuchtet ausgewählte Literatur aus der Occupational Science und Ergotherapie.