title: Changes in experienced value of everyday occupations after nature-based vocational rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe and assess changes in participants' experiences of everyday occupations after nature-based vocational rehabilitation (NBVR), to assess changes regarding symptoms of severe stress and the rate of return to work and possible association with experiencing the occupational value of everyday occupations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The NBVR was carried out by a transdisciplinary rehabilitation team and took place in a specially designed rehabilitation garden. The study had a longitudinal and mixed-method approach. Data concerning experiences of everyday occupations (Oval-pd), self-assessed occupational competence (OSA-F), health status (EQ-VAS, SCI-93), and sense of coherence (SOC-13) were collected before and after the intervention, and a one-year follow-up was carried out regarding returning to work. Semi-structured interviews were performed 12 weeks after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes were measured regarding perceived occupational values in daily life, symptoms of severe stress, and returning to work. Both the return to work rate and symptoms of severe stress were significantly associated with changed experience of everyday occupation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the interviews, participants explained that they now had a slower pace of everyday life and that everyday occupations were more often related to nature and creativity. This could be interpreted as nature-based rehabilitation inducing changes through meaningful occupations in restorative environments, leading to a positive change in perceived values of everyday occupations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Works Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Alnarp , Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pálsdóttir
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grahn
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Persson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D058611:Horticultural Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D062707:Return to Work; D020377:Self Efficacy; D060685:Sense of Coherence; D058992:Social Participation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*