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Objective
Very low birthweight (VLBW) infants have an increased risk of mortality and frequently suffer from complications, which affects parental occupational balance. Occupational balance is the satisfaction with one's meaningful activities, which include everyday activities that people need to, want to, and are expected to do. In contrast to wor...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... between occupational balance, physical and mental health and postnatal depression were identified ( Table 2) ...Similar publications
OBJECTIVE
To determine neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants born at < 29 weeks gestational age (GA) with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH) at 18 to 24 months corrected age (CA).
STUDY DESIGN
In this retrospective cohort study, preterm infants born at < 29 weeks GA between January 2016 and December 2019, admit...
Citations
... Although every human may experience decreased occupational balance to some extent throughout their life course [13,[17][18][19][20], certain populations, such as informal caregivers [21], homeless persons [22], people undergoing life transitions [23] or individuals with specific diagnoses [24][25][26] seem to be at a greater risk. Life events such as a stroke, or living through a pandemic, have been shown to amplify subjectively perceived decreased occupational balance [27,28]. ...
... Life events such as a stroke, or living through a pandemic, have been shown to amplify subjectively perceived decreased occupational balance [27,28]. For example, earlier research has established associations between occupational balance, subjective health, and well-being in parents of preterm infants with a very low birthweight and in parents of children with cerebral palsy [21,29]. Changes in occupational balance and time-use patterns, which potentially affected health and well-being, have also been reported by university students during the COVID-19 pandemic [23]. ...
... For example, it is usually women who spend twice as much time as men on care work enabling health systems functionality when it comes to informal care of persons in need for assistance in their homes [88] or social systems functionality when thinking of childcare obligations [89]. This load can lead to serious health risks, such as anxiety, depression, loneliness and occupational imbalance [21,[90][91][92]. ...
Introduction
Occupational balance, the subjective perception of satisfaction and balance in engaging in meaningful activities, is fundamental to individuals’ health and well-being. The detrimental impacts of decreased occupational balance are increasingly acknowledged, and interventions are emerging. A comprehensive review of these interventions, targeting occupational balance in adult populations, is needed to ensure effective implementation into both clinical and public health settings.
Objective
This study aimed to systematically review and synthesize existing interventions that address occupational balance among adults in diverse contexts, and to evaluate their effectiveness.
Method
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE in April 2024, following the PRISMA guidelines. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024, reporting quantitatively on interventions addressing occupational balance, were included. The NHLBI quality assessment tools were employed to evaluate the risk of bias. A narrative synthesis was performed.
Results
Of the 347 records identified, 18 publications were included in this review. Study designs comprised randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and pre-post studies. Most participants had specific diagnoses, with a predominance of mental health conditions. The review identified 12 interventions aimed at promoting occupational balance, providing an overview of interventions' target groups, goals, features, and content. Overall effectiveness of identified interventions varied across studies, with six demonstrating statistically significant improvements in occupational balance scores. Clinically meaningful changes were observed in areas such as drug craving, social isolation, and work ability.
Conclusion
This review identified promising interventions for promoting occupational balance and enhancing health, well-being, and life satisfaction across various settings. Further research should employ controlled experimental designs to evaluate interventions addressing occupational balance across diverse populations, addressing gender and age differences while assessing effectiveness across delivery modes and settings.
... The OB is described as the subjective experience of having the right combination in quantity and variation of occupations in a particular occupational pattern [24]. Interestingly, OB has been associated with the subjective health and well-being of CGs [24][25][26][27][28]. Specifically, regarding older people, a recent study has shown that OB was correlated to the subjective health and well-being of CGs of older people [29]. ...
... Interestingly, OB has been associated with the subjective health and well-being of CGs [24][25][26][27][28]. Specifically, regarding older people, a recent study has shown that OB was correlated to the subjective health and well-being of CGs of older people [29]. This study evidence the critical importance of maintaining OB in CGs as it contributes to both the CGs and the individual receiving care well-being [24][25][26][27][28]. Nonetheless, scientific research on OB and CGs remains limited, with significant gaps in exploring this concept within vital populations such as CGs of individuals with dementia. ...
... All these factors are related to different variables such as burnout or stress, and may also be related to OB. In CGs of persons with dementia, a sufficient OB is essential in order to provide high-quality care while maintaining their own health, roles and life satisfaction [24][25][26][27][28]. For this reason, this study aimed to explore the associated factors with the OB in CGs of persons with dementia; specifically to investigate the sociodemographic, clinical, and caregiving-related factors associated with OB in CGs of people with dementia participating in the ATENEA (ATENción plena en Enfermedad de Alzheimer) project [35]. ...
Background
Occupational balance (OB) has been associated with health indicators in informal caregivers (CGs) such as well-being and subjective health. Consequently, maintaining an adequate OB could be crucial to providing adequate care without becoming overwhelmed, converting the condition of caregivers into an important aspect of public health as the ageing population increases. However, little is known about the factors influencing OB in CGs. Thus, this study aimed to explore the associated factors with the OB in CGs of persons with dementia.
Methods
We cross-sectionally analysed data from 134 CGs and the individuals with dementia. We assessed CGs’ OB using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ). Simultaneously, several sociodemographic, clinical, and caregiving-related variables including CGs’ burden and psychological distress were assessed. The association between the CGs’ OB and those factors was explored through robust multiple linear regression.
Results
Firstly, CGs that presented secondary education exhibited a decrement of 5.41 (CI95% = -10.62, -0.41; p-value = 0.03) OB points. Moreover, CGs with higher education experienced a more pronounced OB reduction (β = -7.74; 95%CI = -12.19, -3.29; p-value = < 0.001). Secondly, those CGs that were retired showed an OB increment of 5.52 (CI95% = 1.14, 9.38; p-value = 0.01). Thirdly, receiving assistance with household chores was associated with an OB increase of 5.80 (CI95% = 2.21, 9.38; p-value = 0.001). Fourthly, and regarding clinical measures, CGs experiencing overload or psychological distress were associated with an OB points decrement of 7.87 (CI95% = -12.51, -3.23; p-value = 0.001) and 9.17 (CI95% =-13.51, -4.84; p-value < 0.001), respectively. Finally, 1% increment in the Disability Assessment for Dementia obtained from the individuals with dementia was associated with an increment of 0.11 (CI95% = 0.04, 0.18; p-value = 0.002) OB points.
Conclusions
This study identified several associated factors with the OB of CGs of persons with dementia. Specifically, we remarked that the CGs’ education, employment status, household chores assistance, overload presence, psychological distress symptoms and the functional level of the person with dementia who cared for were important variables that should be considered when evaluating OB or creating OB-related interventions in CGs.
... A study in Madiun in 2017 found that working mothers had an increased risk of LBW and death compared to mothers who worked at home (7). The condition of balance in parental work is related to the health condition and development of LBW babies (8). Family economic conditions can be identified by classifying the household wealth index, which describes the household's ability to meet household needs, including food and nutrition. ...
IDHS 2017 showed the prevalence of low birth weight (LBW) infants in Indonesia is 7%. LBW can increase the risk of mortality, morbidity, and growth disorders. The survival of LBW infants can be influenced by socioeconomic factors. The purpose of this study is to analyze survival time differences of LBW infants based on socioeconomic factors. This research is a non-reactive study using secondary data from the IDHS 2017. Survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method and analysis of differences in survival curves using the Log Rank method. The independent variables in the study include parents' occupation, household wealth index, mother's education, and father's education. The measured event is infant mortality within one year. Mother's education (p value=0.069) has no difference in the survival time of LBW. The parent's occupation (p value=0.013) has a difference in the survival time of LBW. The probability of survival is 99% in LBW with non-working mothers. There is a difference in the survival time of LBW based on the household wealth index factor (p value=0.000) with the probability of survival for LBW born in the lowest wealth index family is 90%. Differences in the survival time of LBW have been found in the parents' occupation and household wealth index variables.
... The historical control group consisted of families of preterm infants who took part in a previous study about the occupational balance in parents of premature infants performed during 2018 and 2019 at the perinatal center of the Medical University Vienna using the same questionnaires (Ethics 1891/2015) 13 . ...
Parents of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in a neonatal intensive care unit experienced additional stress during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic due to the related restrictions in hospital visiting policies. Our study aimed to compare parents' burdens before and during the pandemic. This survey included 121 parents of 76 VLBW infants in two European Level IV perinatal centers before and during the pandemic. We performed standardized parent questionnaires with mothers and fathers separately to evaluate their emotional stress and well-being. The pandemic worsened the emotional well-being of parents of VLBW infants, particularly of mothers. During the pandemic, mothers reported significantly higher state anxiety levels (48.9 vs. 42.9, p = 0.026) and hampered bonding with the child (6.3 vs. 5.2, 0 = 0.003) than before. In addition, mothers felt more personally restricted than fathers (6.1 vs. 5.2, p = 0.003). Fathers experienced lower levels of stress than mothers; they were equally burdened before and during the pandemic. Restrictions in visiting policies for families of VLBW infants during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have a significant negative impact on parental stress and should therefore be applied cautiously.
... Due to the impact of OB on health and individuals' satisfaction with life, any imbalance in occupation can affect health (Backman, 2004;Dür et al., 2022;Parnell, 2022;To-Miles et al., 2022;Wilcock et al., 1997); therefore, instruments measuring OB are useful and fundamental. The OBQ11 assesses a comprehensive concept of OB and it can determine the level of individuals' OB in a short period of time in comparison to similar assessment tools. ...
Introduction
Occupational balance is a fundamental concept that plays an influential role in enhancing health and well-being.
Method
The Persian Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 was administered to 157 healthy individuals in the test phase and 80 healthy individuals in the retest phase. Floor or ceiling effects, construct validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability, test–retest reliability, standard error of the measurement and smallest detectable change were examined.
Results
The Persian Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 showed no missing responses. There were no floor or ceiling effects for the total score. The independent t-test did not show a statistically significant difference between groups (based on age category, marital status and job status) that didn’t support discriminant validity. Factor analysis demonstrated a three-factor solution for the Persian Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 which jointly accounted for 57.62% of the total variance. There was high internal consistency for test (α = 0.813) and retest (α = 0.853). The test–retest reliability for Persian Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 with a 1-week interval was excellent (ICC agreement = 0.880). The standard error of the measurement and smallest detectable change were 2.02 and 5.60, respectively.
Conclusion
Persian Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing occupational balance in healthy Persian-speaking participants.
... An initial search of MEDLINE identified articles with the relevant terms. Studies explored concepts such as parental occupational balance in parents of babies born at a very low birth weight who were admitted to a NICU, 22 the experiences of fathers with inpatient premature neonates who experienced occupational disruption, 23 and a cross-sectional study on occupational imbalances in parents following the birth of a baby born preterm and admitted to a NICU. 24 A preliminary search of PROSPERO, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and JBI Evidence Synthesis was conducted and no current or in-progress scoping reviews or systematic reviews on the topic were identified. ...
Objective:
This review aims to identify and map the usage, application, and context of occupational justice concepts and related terms by occupational therapists and occupational scientists in relation to parents and children when children are born preterm or admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit.
Introduction:
Occupational justice concepts and related terms can inform occupational therapy practice at the individual level or as a wider social approach. However, the extent to which these concepts have been applied to parents and children, when children are born preterm or admitted to neonatal intensive care, is unknown.
Inclusion criteria:
Studies must include one or more occupational justice concepts or associated terms in relation to the named population groups. Sources must be related to occupational therapy or occupational science.
Methods:
The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the PRISMA-S extension for reporting literature searches in systematic reviews. Several electronic databases and sources of gray literature will be searched, limited by publication year (2000 till the present day). The review will only include human studies and studies with a title or abstract in English. Book chapters will be excluded. Reference lists of retrieved studies will be searched against pre-determined criteria. Evidence sources will be independently screened by a minimum of 2 authors, and evidence will be mapped on a pre-determined template.
Review registration number:
osf.io/eqd9f.
... A construct which was found to be associated with determinants of subjective health and well-being is occupational balance, defined as the experience of a right balance between meaningful activities [17][18][19][20][21]. Meaningful activities describe purposeful activities a person does, wants to or has to do, such as self-care, leisure activities, household chores and work [22]. Occupational balance was found to be meaningful for informal caregivers [20,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. For instance, parents of preterm infants with a very low birthweight and parents of children with cerebral palsy experienced restrictions in their occupational balance [20,32]. ...
... Occupational balance was found to be meaningful for informal caregivers [20,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. For instance, parents of preterm infants with a very low birthweight and parents of children with cerebral palsy experienced restrictions in their occupational balance [20,32]. Furthermore, associations between parental occupational balance and subjective health and well-being were identified in parents of preterm infants with a very low birthweight [33] and in parents of children with cerebral palsy [20]. ...
... In previous studies, occupational balance of healthy persons [19,57,58], informal caregivers [20,32] and persons with various health conditions [17,57,59] was found to be associated with subjective health and wellbeing. The demonstrated associations between informal caregivers' occupational balance, subjective health and well-being in our study support this existing evidence. ...
Objectives
Population ageing leads to a noticeable increase in demand for informal care. Informal caregivers experience high caregiver burden, such as restricted subjective health and well-being. Occupational balance is associated with subjective health and well-being. However, associations between occupational balance and subjective health and well-being of informal caregivers of older persons have not been investigated yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore associations between occupational balance and subjective health and well-being of informal caregivers of older persons.
Methods
From September 2016 to July 2020, a cross-sectional multicenter study design was employed in Austria. Informal caregivers’ occupational balance, subjective health, and well-being as well as comorbidity of persons to be cared for were assessed with seven self-reported questionnaires. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients rs were calculated to determine associations between occupational balance and subjective health and well-being of informal caregivers of older persons.
Results
In total 118 informal caregivers, 102 (86%) female, and their persons to be cared for, 70 (59%) female, were considered for analyses. Median age was 58 years for informal caregivers and 81 years for persons to be cared for. Informal caregivers reported restrictions in occupational balance, subjective health, and well-being. Persons to be cared for showed comorbid health conditions. Significant associations between occupational balance and determinants of subjective health and well-being were identified (rs − 0.30 – 0.69; p ≤ 0.01).
Conclusions
As population ageing and the demand for informal care progress, efforts to support informal caregivers and to strengthen their occupational balance, subjective health and well-being are vital.
The caregiving burden experienced by informal caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia (ICIWS) can affect their perceived occupational balance (OB). This study examines the differences in OB among ICIWS with different caregiving burden levels. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 149 ICIWS. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11-Turkish Version (OBQ11-T) was used to assess the participants' OB. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale was employed to evaluate caregiving burden levels. Statistically significant differences were found in the total score of OBQ11-T, Item 3 (time for doing things wanted), Item 5 (having sufficient time for doing obligatory occupations), and Item 9 (balance between obligatory/voluntary occupations) between the severe and little caregiving burden groups (p < .05). Caregiving for individuals with schizophrenia can lead to varying levels of caregiving burden, which negatively affects OB. Occupational therapists working with ICIWS should assess OB and address OB-related challenges to alleviate caregiver burden.
