Occupational value among individuals with long-term mental illness.
OBJECTIVE
The study compared the perceived value of occupation among a sample of individuals with long-term mental illness to a sample of people not diagnosed with mental illness. As well, it investigated whether diagnostic and demographic factors were related to perceived occupational value among the individuals with mental illness. Finally, the study examined the relationship between occupational value and ratings of health and well-being.


METHODS
One hundred and three individuals with mental illness and 28 healthy individuals were recruited for the study.


RESULTS
Overall occupational value among the individuals diagnosed with mental illness differed only marginally from the healthy group, indicating that perceived occupational value was by and large not related to mental illness. Among the individuals with mental illness, having children living at home was related to occupational value. There were moderate to strong associations between occupational value and measures of health and well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides important insights into occupational value among individuals with persistent mental health problems and provides some preliminary evidence in support of the Value, Meaning and Occupation Model.
Eklund
Mona
M
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Occupational Therapy, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00 LUND, Sweden. mae@arb.lu.se
Erlandsson
Lena-Karin
LK
Persson
Dennis
D
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D013548:Sweden