Occupational balance and stroke impact among community-dwelling stroke survivors 65 years or older: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational balance has been investigated in different populations but less in stroke survivors. Previous studies have focussed on occupational balance among stroke survivors of working age (15-64 years of age), showing they did not perceive they had occupational balance. There is, therefore, a lack of knowledge of how older stroke survivors perceive their occupational balance. The aims of this study were to describe occupational balance in community-dwelling stroke survivors 65 years or older and to investigate if there were any associations between their perceived stroke impact and occupational balance. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 58 stroke survivors, with a median age of 75 years at stroke onset and a median time since stroke onset of 11 months. The participants were recruited from a local stroke register and answered questionnaires on occupational balance and stroke impact. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, correlations and logistic regression. RESULTS: The participants had a median score of 29 (min 12 to max 33), indicating a very high occupational balance, a low stroke impact, and a good recovery (median 82.5; min 0 to max 100). An association between participation and occupational balance (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.23) was found. CONCLUSION: The stroke survivors perceived a low stroke impact and a high occupational balance. It is possible that older community-dwelling stroke survivors, of whom many have retired, juggle less occupations leaving them with more time to engage in those occupations they want to, leading to a better occupational balance.

Child and caregiver predictors of primary caregiver participation in families of school-aged Autistic children.

Engaging in meaningful activities (e.g., leisure, spiritual, fitness) significantly affects caregivers' quality of life (QoL), yet the determinants of participation in caregivers of Autistic children remain largely unknown. The current study examined child and caregiver correlates of primary caregiver participation in meaningful activities. One hundred and six primary caregivers of Autistic children (7-12 years) were recruited from three unique cohorts of Autistic children in this cross-sectional study. Primary caregivers completed online questionnaires measuring occupational gaps (i.e., desired activities caregivers are not participating in), QoL, parenting stress, perceived family outcomes, and social support. In addition to undertaking direct assessments of children's cognition and language, primary caregivers also reported on their child's adaptive behavior, social-emotional skills, and participation. Caregivers reporting fewer occupational gaps (i.e., ≤2 desired activities) were more likely to have Autistic children with no co-occurring conditions, who were older, and with better adaptive behaviors, social-emotional skills, and more frequent home and school participation, compared to caregivers reporting many gaps (i.e., ≥3 desired activities). Caregivers with fewer occupational gaps also reported improved QoL, parenting stress, social support, perceived community inclusiveness, and family outcomes. Logistic regression analysis identified child age, child adaptive behavior, social-emotional skills, home participation, and the caregivers' perceived family outcomes and QoL as important predictors of their occupational gaps. The findings demonstrate that caregiver participation in desired activities was associated with increased functional ability and independence of the child, as well as their perceived capacity to meet their child's needs. Supporting parents' sense of efficacy in meeting their children's needs and building their skills and knowledge will serve to improve both caregiver and child outcomes.

Psychometric properties of the Arabic Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-A).

BACKGROUND: Occupational balance (OB) is a desirable outcome of rehabilitation because it is related to various health indices. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) is a self-report measure of occupational balance. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To examine the test-retest reliability, participant-level content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and convergent validity of an Arabic occupational balance questionnaire (OBQ11-A). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 103 participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Test-retest reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients, participant-level content validity using percentage of agreement in survey questions, construct validity using factor analysis, internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, and convergent validity by examining associations with quality-of-life. RESULTS: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient values for the total OBQ11-A scores and individual items were greater than 0.7 between the test and retest. The majority of respondents endorsed the relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility of the OBQ11-A. Cronbach's alpha for the OBQ11-A total score was 0.899. Nine of the 11 OBQ11-A items had factor loadings greater than 0.7. Moderate associations were found between the total OBQ11-A scores and physical health (n = 101; ρ = .52, p < .001), psychological health (n = 101; ρ = .49, p < .001), social relationships (n = 101; ρ = .36, p < .001), and environmental domains (n = 101; ρ = .57, p < .001) of the quality-of-life measure. CONCLUSIONS: OBQ11-A demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties for research purposes.

Occupational balance, referring to an individual's self-perception of having the right amount and variety of occupations in his/her occupational pattern, is associated with various health indicators and could serve as an additional outcome of rehabilitation.The Arabic version of the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-A) was found to have acceptable validity and reliability for use among Arabic-speaking populations.

Leisure, community, workforce participation and quality of life in primary and secondary caregivers of autistic children.

Parents of Autistic children often modify their participation in leisure, social, and employment activities to meet the caregiving needs of their child. However, few studies have examined the impact this has on caregiver quality of life (QoL). The aim in the current study was to examine the role of participation in a range of activities on QoL amongst primary and secondary caregivers of school-aged Autistic children. Eighty-eight primary (93% mothers) and 63 secondary (91% fathers) caregivers of Autistic children (aged 7- to 12-years) participated in this cross-sectional study, with time pressure, participation, social support, parenting stress, and QoL measured via an online questionnaire. Compared to secondary caregivers, primary caregivers reported fewer employment hours, increased time pressure, less participation in desired activities, and higher perceived responsibility of domestic and child-rearing tasks. Similar levels of leisure frequency, parenting stress, and QoL were identified by both caregivers. Hierarchical regression revealed caregiver participation as important for QoL in both primary and secondary caregivers. However, when measures of caregiver well-being were added to the model, the unique contribution of participation to QoL was reduced, particularly for secondary caregivers. Overall, the findings demonstrate that despite differences in caregiver roles and responsibilities, participation in meaningful activities was important for QoL in all caregivers.

Does working style affect the occupational balance and life satisfaction of office workers in Turkey? A comparison study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has caused various effects, changing people's lives and work styles. During this period, workplaces decided to work remotely, so people spent more time at home. Therefore, workers' personal and work lives were negatively affected. OBJECTIVE: This study planned to compare traditional and remote office workers' occupational balance and life satisfaction in Turkey during COVID-19. METHODS: Google Survey was used for data collection. Three hundred office workers (18-65 years old) from Turkey participated in the study. The occupational balance and life satisfaction levels of participants were assessed using the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (QB-Quest) and Personal Well-being Index-Adult (PWI-A). RESULTS: Data collected were analyzed statistically by the Independent Sample t-test. It was found that the remote office workers had lower levels of occupational balance (p = 0.02; r = -3.317) and life satisfaction (p = 0.01; r = -2.199) compared to the traditional office workers. CONCLUSION: Remote office workers were found to have lower occupational balance and life satisfaction than traditional office workers. In this period, when the way of working changes like COVID-19, it is crucial to determine office workers' occupational balance and life satisfaction and take precautions for their job performance and satisfaction.

Relationship between playing-related factors and occupational balance in professional violinists.

BACKGROUND: Playing performance of musicians may affect their occupational balance. The violin is one of the riskiest string instruments for the musculoskeletal health. OBJECTIVE: To show the effect of socio-demographics, playing posture, pain, and functionality on occupational balance in professional violinists in Istanbul. METHODS: Forty-five violinists aged 29.1±10.6 years were included. The Personal Information Form, the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale, the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand - Sports/Musicians (DASH-SM), the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, and the 11-item revised version of the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11 - T) were used. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the variables and occupational balance. RESULTS: The only significant correlation was found between doing regular exercise and occupational balance (r = 0.539, p <  0.001) with those having an exercise habit reporting higher occupational balance scores. The mean pain score of the violinists increased from a pre-performing mean of 1.6±2.3 to a post-performance mean of 3.91±2.4. CONCLUSIONS: Musicians indicate that they practice physical exercise regularly. A strong methodological limitation of this study is that variables like exercise were evaluated with a self-reported survey which limited the analysis and so we hardly find any relationships between them. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between playing-related factors and occupational balance in violinists. There may be other factors affecting occupational balance in violinists and also in the other musicians. Similar studies are needed in other countries also using different assessments specific to musicians.

Equilibrio ocupacional, discapacidad y funcionalidad en personas con enfermedades reumáticas / Occupational balance, disability and functionality in people with rheumatic disease

Fundamento. El objetivo del presente estudio es conocer el equilibrio ocupacional de las personas con enfermedad reumá-tica y analizar su relación con la participación, el rendimiento y satisfacción con las actividades de la vida diaria (AVD), así como evaluar si la edad o recibir tratamiento no farmacológico influ-yen en los resultados.Método. Estudio transversal realizado entre marzo y noviembre de 2021 en personas con diagnóstico de enfermedad reumática en fase no avanzada procedentes de la Asociación ConArtritis, seleccionadas mediante muestreo aleatorio simple. Se recogie-ron, on-line y/o por teléfono, datos sociodemográficos y pun-tuaciones de los cuestionarios OBQ, IMPACT-S, COPM, y de un cuestionario creado ad hoc para las AVD.Resultados. Los 47 participantes no presentaban un buen equi-librio ocupacional (OBQ: 34,2; DE: 13,7). A pesar de una buena participación en AVD (IMPACT-S: 76,8; DE: 13,1), el grado de desempeño y de satisfacción con las AVD distó de ser óptimo (COPM-R: 3,9; DE=2,0 y COPM-S: 4,3; DE=2,5). El 46,8% encon-traba limitaciones en al menos cuatro AVD, tanto básicas como instrumentales, y el 61,7% utilizaba al menos un producto de apoyo en su día a día. Estas limitaciones disminuían su tiem-po de descanso y afectaban a su actividad laboral, aficiones y relaciones personales. El grado de desempeño se relacionó ne-gativamente con la edad (p=0,04); recibir tratamiento no farma-cológico no modificó las puntuaciones.Conclusión. Los datos recabados sugieren que las personas con enfermedad reumática en fases no avanzadas de la enfermedad perciben que su equilibrio ocupacional mejoraría si encontra-sen menos limitaciones en las AVD (AU)

Background. We aimed to assess the occupational balance of people with rheumatic disease, analyze its relationship with par-ticipation, performance, and satisfaction with daily life activi-ties, and evaluate whether age or receiving non-pharmacological treatment affects the outcome.Methods. Cross-sectional study carried out between March and November 2021; patients with non-advanced stage of rheumatic disease from the ConArtritis Association –selected through sim-ple random sampling–, were included. Sociodemographic data and scores from the OBQ, IMPACT-S, COPM questionnaires, and a questionnaire created ad hoc for daily life activities were collected online and/or by telephone.Results. The occupational balance of the 47 participants was low (OBQ: 34.2; SD: 13.7). Despite a high participation in daily life activities (IMPACT-S: 76.8; SD: 13.1), the degree of perfor-mance and satisfaction with these activities was far from op-timal (COPM-R: 3.9; SD: 2.0 and COPM-S: 4.3; SD: 2.5); 46.8% of the participants found limitations in at least four daily life activities (basic and instrumental) and 61.7% used at least one support product in their daily lives. These limitations reduced their resting time and affected their jobs, hobbies, and personal relationships. The level of performance was negatively related to age (p=0.04); No changes in the scores were found in patients who received non-pharmacological treatment.Conclusion. Our results suggest that individuals with non- advanced stage of a rheumatic disease perceive that their oc-cupational balance may be improved should they have fewer limitations in daily life activities (AU)

Comparisons of Occupational Balance Within Informal Caregivers of Individuals With Schizophrenia.

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.

A Call to Arms for Professional Sustainability and Practitioner's Mental Health.

Despite professional commitment to wellness, supporting and addressing clinician mental health and professional sustainability has not been historically prioritized or well-understood within the occupational therapy profession. This paper discusses how to build a mentally strong, resilient, sustainable current and future occupational therapy workforce at the personal and systemwide levels to prioritize practitioner mental health. Specific barriers to and support for practitioner occupational balance and mental health as well as systemwide professional sustainability are discussed highlighting a Model of the Interplay of Occupational Balance and Professional Sustainability.

Occupational therapy and stress-related exhaustion - a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Sick leave due to long-term stress is increasing in Finland and other Western countries. Occupational therapists might contribute to the prevention of and/or recovery from stress-related exhaustion. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To describe what is known about occupational therapy for stress-related exhaustion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A five-step scoping review included papers published in six databases from 2000 to 2022. Extracted data was summarized to show the occupational therapy contribution within the literature. RESULTS: There were 29 papers meeting the inclusion criteria, of which a limited number described preventive interventions. Most articles described recovery-oriented occupational therapy with group interventions. The occupational therapists contributed with prevention measures, mostly targeting recovery in multi-professional interventions in terms of stress reduction or return-to-work. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapy involving stress management both prevents stress and supports recovery from stress-related exhaustion. Occupational therapists internationally use craft, nature activities or gardening as stress management measures. SIGNIFICANCE: Occupational therapy appears to be a potential treatment option for stress-related exhaustion internationally in conditions that could also work in Finland, for example in occupational healthcare.

Leisure, Employment, Community Participation, and Quality of Life in Primary Caregivers of Autistic Children: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: In prioritising the needs of their autistic children, parents often modify their own participation across leisure, social, and workforce activities. Few studies have examined the impact these modifications have on caregiver quality of life (QoL). The aim in the current study was to examine how parenting their autistic child/ren impacts parent's participation and QoL. METHODS: Twenty primary caregivers (29-48 years, all female) of autistic children (7-11 years) were interviewed online about their participation in leisure, community, and employment activities including the impact of COVID-19. RESULTS: Five themes with underlying subthemes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis. The themes were: (1) Reflecting on the important things in life, (2) Getting access to everything needed, (3) Barriers to participation in meaningful activities, (4) Facilitators of participation in meaningful activities, and (5) Participation through the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the importance of regular participation in meaningful activities for parents of autistic children and the support needed by them, particularly single parents, to achieve balance between meeting caring responsibilities and their own participation needs.

Test-retest reliability of three life balance measures in people with neuromuscular disease: the activity card sort-NL, the activity calculator, and the occupational balance questionnaire.

Purpose: Life balance is a new and important concept in occupational therapy. New measurements are needed to assess and evaluate life balance and interventions aimed to achieve this concept. This article describes the test-retest reliability of three life balance measures: the Activity Calculator (AC), Activity Card Sort (ACS-NL(18-64)) and Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11-NL).Method: Data collection took place among 50 participants with neuromuscular diseases: facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD, n = 25) or mitochondrial myopathy (MM, n = 25). The AC, the ACS-NL(18-64) and the OBQ11-NL were assessed twice with an interval of one week. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC-agreement) were applied to examine test-retest reliability.Results: The ICC of the AC-average total day score was .95 (95% CI .91-.97), whereas the ICC of the weights allocated to each activity was 0.80 (95% CI .77-0.82). The ICC of the ACS-NL(18-64) percentage retained activities was 0.92 (95% CI 0.86 - 0.96) and the ICC of the importance score per activity was- .76 (95% CI . 0.68-0.89). The ICC of the OBQ11-NL total score was .76 (95% CI 0.62-0.86).Conclusion: All three tools showed good to excellent test-retest reliability in a sample of patients with FSHD or MM, which is promising for its use in clinical practice and research.

The AC, ACS-NL(18­64) and the OBQ11-NL are promising, reliable measures of life balance in patients with neuromuscular diseases.The development of three new instruments for life balance enlarges the possibility for health professionals to measure life balance in clinical practice and research.

An Occupation-Based Lifestyle Lecture Intervention as Part of Inpatient Addiction Recovery Treatment: Exploring Occupational Performance, Balance and Personal Recovery.

Introduction: Substance use disorders (SUDs) and addictive behaviours are growing problems which negatively impact health and wellbeing. Occupational therapy can support recovery by facilitating engagement in everyday activities that promote health. To date, the inclusion of occupational therapy in addiction recovery is limited and the evidence base for occupation-focused interventions is lacking. This study explores the impact of an occupational therapy-led intervention on self-reported occupational performance and occupational balance issues for people living with SUDs within an inpatient addiction service. Methodology: A quantitative pre and post-test study was implemented. The Canadian Personal Recovery Outcome Measure (C-PROM) was the sole outcome measure. The C-PROM is a self-report measure which aims to measure personal views of recovery based on rating activity engagement. The cohort of participants were recruited from referrals into 2 inpatient addiction recovery treatment programmes using purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics were run, and a Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to analyse pre and post-test scoring. Results: Sixteen participants (9 male and 7 female) completed the intervention and outcome measure. The majority of participants (31.3%, n = 5) were between 45 and 54 years old. 25% of the sample (n = 4) were in the 35 to 44 age bracket while 18.8% (n = 3) were aged 55 to 64. The majority of participants (68.8%, n = 11) reported substance misuse as their main healthcare concern. The mean score on the C-PROM was significantly higher after participants received the intervention when compared with baseline scoring. Conclusion: Following engagement with an occupational therapist-led intervention participants reported increased engagement in activities and occupational performance. Participants also reported improved occupational balance and increased awareness of personal recovery needs. Further research is required to explore the effectiveness of this intervention in larger samples and to explore the transferability and sustainability of skills post discharge.

Longitudinal Changes in Occupational Balance among Baby Boomers in Japan (1996-2016).

In Japan, the proportion of the older adult population-the post-war baby boomer generation-is increasing rapidly and presenting new problems, such as suicide among baby boomers and the burden of family care. The purpose of this study was to clarify how baby boomers changed their occupational balance between their 40s and 60s. This study used public statistical data from the Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities published by the Statistics Bureau of Japan to analyze the longitudinal characteristics of the time allocation of baby boomers. The findings of this study showed gender differences in occupational balance among the study population. The occupational balance of men changed due to occupational transition after mandatory retirement, but that of women did not change significantly. Longitudinally examining the time allocation changes of one generation revealed that the readjustment of occupational balance is necessary during life role changes, such as retirement. Moreover, if this readjustment is not carried out properly, individuals will experience role overload and loss.

Taking control of one's everyday life - a qualitative study of experiences described by participants in an occupational intervention.

BACKGROUND: Sick leave due to stress-related ill-health is increasing and is often caused by occupational imbalance. These types of issues tend to affect both the ability to work and cope with everyday life, as well as the overall experience of health, negatively. There is still little knowledge on how to prepare people and workplaces for the return-to-work process after participation in a work rehabilitation program due to stress and occupational ill-health. Therefore, this study aimed to describe what is needed to achieve a balanced everyday life that includes paid work as experienced by individuals who had participated in a ReDO® intervention due to occupational imbalance and ill-health. METHODS: The concluding notes from 54 informants' medical records were used for qualitative content analysis. The informants had participated in an occupational therapy group intervention to promote occupational health and regain full work capacity. RESULTS: The analysis resulted in one major theme and four categories describing how the informants perceive that they must take control of their everyday life as a whole. By doing so, they need to work with structurization and prioritization, social interaction, boundary setting, and occupational meaningfulness. CONCLUSION: The study indicates a highly relational process, where it is impossible to divide life into private and work, and presupposes balance in everyday life in multiple dimensions. Its contribution includes the formulation of perceived needs in the transition between intervention and return to work and could, through further research, be used to generate a more effective and sustainable return- and rehabilitation models.

Perceived challenges at work and need for professional support among people with inflammatory arthritis - A qualitative interview study.

BACKGROUND: People with inflammatory arthritis (IA) often experience low work ability, and up to 38% lose their jobs during the initial years after the diagnosis of IA. AIM: We explore the perceived challenges at work and identify the need for professional support among Danish people with IA. MATERIALS/METHODS: Individual explorative interviews based on a hermeneutic approach. We used Graneheim and Lundman's qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Eleven women and four men with IA (aged 36-68 years) who worked full or part time, or were on short-term sick leave, participated. The analysis revealed one main theme, Balancing work as part of everyday life, and four sub-themes: 1) Working despite challenges, 2) Prioritising energy for work, 3) Fatigue leading to lack of control, and 4) Need for flexibility and recognition. CONCLUSIONS: People with IA prioritise staying at work despite experiencing challenges with fatigue and balancing their work and energy in everyday life. They need recognition, support and flexibility at work to be able to continue in their jobs. SIGNIFICANCE: The study highlights the need to be aware of occupational balance and, thus, to include other aspects in life apart from just work. It points at occupational therapists as relevant partners in vocational rehabilitation.

Occupational balance in parents of pre-school children: Potential differences between mothers and fathers.

BACKGROUND: Parents of young children are a vulnerable group with an increased risk of stress-related health problems compared to adults without children. Low occupational balance has been identified as a risk factor for stress-related disorders. AIM: The study aimed to describe occupational balance in parents of pre-school children and to explore potential differences between mothers and fathers. METHOD: Data were collected by a web-based survey based on the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11). A total of 302 working parents (200 mothers and 102 fathers) with at least one child under seven years of age were included in the study. FINDINGS: Mothers reported lower occupational balance than fathers with a median value of 10 for mothers and 12 for fathers (p = 0.029). Mothers rated significantly lower than fathers in three items; 'Balance between work, home, family, leisure, rest and sleep', 'Having sufficient time for doing obligatory occupations' and 'Balance between doing things for others and for oneself'. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that caring for pre-school children may negatively impact both parents, impacting mothers' occupational balance to a greater degree. SIGNIFICANCE: Occupational therapists' knowledge could be utilised to increase awareness of the importance of occupational balance within health services and improve mothers' occupational balance.

Translation, Psychometric and Concept Analysis of the Occupational Balance-Questionnaire Based on a Turkish Population.

Occupational balance is a crucial concept in occupational therapy, accepted as a key component of health and well-being. The Occupational Balance-Questionnaire (OB-Quest) is designed as a standardized instrument to assess occupational balance. This study investigated the validity and reliability of the OB-Quest Turkish, which consisted of translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and analysis psychometric properties phases. The factor structure of the OB-Quest indicated a good model fit. The criterion-related validity showed a positive correlation with Beck Depression Inventory and a negative correlation with the 12-item Short Form Survey. The OB-Quest-Turkish showed questionable internal consistency and an excellent correlation between test-retest.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2021.2010160 .

The relationship between psychopathology, occupational balance, and quality of life among people with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: There is an increased risk of occupational imbalance and poor quality of life (QoL) if one has schizophrenia. Although evidence suggests a relationship between psychopathology and QoL, the association of occupational balance (OB) with QoL in schizophrenia is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations among psychopathology, occupational balance, and QoL in schizophrenia. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). Ninety-five individuals aged 18 years or older with the diagnosis of schizophrenia participated in the study. All participants completed a sociodemographic form, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Calgary Depression Scale in Schizophrenia (CDSS), Occupational Balance Questionnaire-11 Turkish Version (OBQ11-T), and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Assessment Instrument (WHOQOL-100-TR). Relationships among clinical and depressive symptoms, OB, and QoL variables were examined through correlation analysis, and then multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the variables that have influences on QOL. RESULTS: The study participants had low OB scores and the lowest mean in the WHOQOL-social relationships subscale. WHOQOL-overall QoL score demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with the PANSS-total score and PANSS-general psychopathology subscale score (r = -0.422, r = -0.463, P < 0.001) and a mild negative correlation with the CDSS-total score (r = -0.390, P < 0.001). OBQ11-T total score showed a moderate positive correlation with the WHOQOL-overall score (r = 0.549; P < 0.001). Findings from the multiple linear regression analysis revealed that OBQ11-T (ß = -0.467, P = 0.000) and PANSS-general psychopathology (ß = -0.221, P = 0.045) were significant predictors of the overall QoL, explaining 48% of the variance in the overall QoL (adjusted R2 = .43, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study findings showed that OB and general psychopathology are determinants that should be considered in improving the QoL in individuals with schizophrenia. Thereby, addressing the symptoms of general psychopathology and occupational factors to improve the QoL may be achieved with the incorporation of occupation-based programmes to routine treatment. However, further research is required.

Evaluation of an occupation-based sleep programme for people with Insomnia.

Background: Sleep problems are a health issue worldwide. Based on the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance model, we developed an occupation-based sleep programme to promote awareness of sleep hygiene factors, promote an environment conductive to sleep, and restructure participation in daytime activities with a focus on occupational balance. Method: This study uses a non-equivalent group design to evaluate the effectiveness of an occupation-based sleep intervention among community-dwelling adults with insomnia, when compared with a treatment-as-usual (TAU) group which focused on sleep hygiene, and relaxation. Results: When compared with the TAU group (n = 20), the intervention group (n = 22) had significant improvement in sleep duration, occupational balance, and reduction in mood symptoms at both post treatment and 1-month follow up. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that an occupation-based programme is an effective treatment for insomnia disorder and demonstrated the role which occupational therapy could play in primary health care service.