title: Engagement in patterns of daily occupations and perceived health among women of working age.
abstract: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to examine how subjective experiences of engagement in patterns of daily occupations (gainful employment, domestic work, enjoyable and recreational occupations) were associated with perceived health among women of working age. The sample (n=488) was drawn from a longitudinal cohort study of women of working age in Gothenburg, Sweden. Participants were women 38 (n=202) and 50 (n=286) years of age. They completed a questionnaire including questions about occupational experiences in relation to their patterns of daily occupations, perceived health, and socioeconomic factors. The results of the present study showed that a combination of different experience dimensions of patterns of daily occupations was associated with perceived health among women of working age, even when adjusted for socioeconomic factors and age. The results provided occupational pattern-related health indicators, i.e. manageability, personally meaningful occupations, and occupational balance. To combine these health indicators can be a way for occupational therapists to enable women to develop strategies to promote health and to prevent stress and sick leave.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Division of Occupational Therapy and Gerontology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. carita.hakansson@med.lu.se
authors.forename: Carita
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lissner
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Björkelund
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sonn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D009790:Occupations; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology