British Journal of Occupational Therapy

There is increasing evidence that engaging in creative and meaningful occupation can impact positively on health and wellbeing. Much of the research in this area has concentrated on general occupational categories and less is known about the benefits of specific occupations. This study aimed to identify the benefits of knitting for individuals' personal and social wellbeing as a prerequisite to investigating its therapeutic use.

An online survey was conducted through an internet knitting site. Responses were received from 3,545 knitters worldwide. Quantitative data were analysed statistically to establish relationships and differences among variables and qualitative data for key themes.

Respondents came from a virtual community of knitters. The majority were female white adults and frequent knitters, who commonly reported knitting for relaxation, stress relief and creativity. The results show a significant relationship between knitting frequency and feeling calm and happy. More frequent knitters also reported higher cognitive functioning. Knitting in a group impacted significantly on perceived happiness, improved social contact and communication with others.

Knitting has significant psychological and social benefits, which can contribute to wellbeing and quality of life. As a skilled and creative occupation, it has therapeutic potential — an area requiring further research.

This study examines participation patterns and environmental supports and barriers for children with and without disabilities within their home setting.

The Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY) is a newly developed, reliable parent/caregiver-report tool, which combines assessment of children's participation and the environment. The PEM-CY was completed online by 576 parents of children or youth (5 to 17 years old) with and without disabilities from Canada and the United States. ANOVA analyses were performed to examine group differences in PEM-CY summary scores. Item-level differences are presented descriptively using radar plots.

After controlling for age and income, significant differences between children with and without disabilities were observed for all home-based PEM-CY participation and environment summary scores. Differences between the two groups were also evident at the item level, particularly when comparing the percentage of children and youth who never participate in specific home-based activities and when comparing perceived barriers to participation.

Although all children and youth participate frequently in home-based activities, those with disabilities tend to participate in less complex and quieter/sedentary activities. This, in addition to parental report of environmental barriers to participation, highlights the potential importance of home-based occupational therapy intervention to optimise participation in this setting.

Intervention outcomes for children and youth with acquired brain injuries should be measured in terms of participation in activities. The aim of this study was to explore the occupational therapy outcome measures used with this group.

One cycle of an action research study, which focused specifically on occupational therapists, is reported. Ten occupational therapists working with children and youth with acquired brain injuries collated the outcome measures they used and mapped their frequently used measures onto the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health — Children and Youth, using established linking rules.

Forty-two outcome measures and assessments were identified. Of these, 19 were used frequently and 15 were used as outcome measures. All activity and participation domains were represented, with learning and applying knowledge, mobility, communication and self-care (except looking after one's health) particularly well covered.

Occupational therapists are using measures that reflect the domains of activity and participation, unlike those previously identified which were linked predominantly to body functions. The importance of occupational therapists working in rehabilitation teams is reiterated in that some of the domains that are not covered by occupational therapists impact on participation, for example, pain.

The purpose of this study was to answer the question ‘How do people who have experienced psychosis describe their engagement in activities of daily living and occupations?’

A qualitative metasynthesis was undertaken on nine studies (encompassing 73 participants) published in occupational therapy literature. Only studies that had used individual qualitative interviews were included to highlight lived experience on a personal level. The quality of the evidence was assessed across all studies and found to be generally high.

Four overarching themes across the nine studies were identified: my emotions and identity; my own health and wellbeing; my relationships with family, friends and community; and my activities and occupations. The overarching themes are not intended to be considered categorically, as they all influence and interact with each other.

There is considerable synchronicity between the experiences of people who have experienced psychosis and the values of the profession. A client's meaningful engagement in activities and occupation is evidence towards how therapists provide authentic, respectful and effective support to these clients, in a manner that meets their needs as individuals.

Older people should have opportunities to be active participants in society because aspects such as lifestyle, physical and social environment and physical and mental status have influence on active ageing. The purpose of this study was to explore the interests pursued by 85-year-old people living in ordinary housing in relation to gender, cognition, depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

A sample of 240 participants completed a postal questionnaire, including the EuroQoL HRQoL measurement. Additional instruments used during a subsequent home visit were the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Mini Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale.

Women experienced poorer health than men, lived alone to a greater extent and used more mobility devices. Compared with men, women had a larger number of interests within household management, but there were no gender differences in the leisure area. A lower number of interests in active recreation was associated with lower cognitive function, poorer HRQoL and a higher risk of depressive symptoms.

The main finding is that engaging in active recreation interests is associated with better cognition, less depression and higher HRQoL in these 85-year-old people and is, therefore, a concern of occupational therapists.

Occupations are known to be imbued with personal, social and cultural meaning. Although there is a growing body of research on the meaning of specific occupations, little attention has been given to the personal meaning of music making as an occupation. This study aimed to explore the personal meaning of engagement in an occupation embedded in a culture by studying music making in Maltese band musicians. Determining the subjective meaning of engagement in an occupation helps to explain why people do what they do and what benefit is derived.

A qualitative study guided by the principles of grounded theory was conducted with 12 band musicians, using a semi-structured interview. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed using the principles of grounded theory.

Three main categories of meaning emerged: the personal meaning of playing in a band, including spiritual and emotional significance; social and cultural connectedness; and the effect of music making on self-identity and personal health.

It was evident that there was an important and dynamic connection between the occupation of music making, the individual musician and the social and cultural environment. This interconnection created a feeling of wellbeing and belonging and emphasised the therapeutic value of music making in a band.

This article describes the development of a first year occupational therapy module, ‘Participation in Occupations’, and the design and development of a mediating tool, Contexts of Participation: the Critical Thinking Tool, in a British university.

Using an action research process, the module content, learning and teaching strategy and new conceptual tools were designed to promote an enhanced understanding of the central importance of occupation to occupational therapy and, in particular, the role of participation in occupations in forming and reforming an individual within unique contextual situations. The inclusion of theory from disability studies and the use of a transformative approach to higher education were also investigated.

The study spans 16 cohorts of students and reflects on the findings, which include increased client-centredness and greater appreciation of the complex nature of participation and its role in health and wellbeing.