Effects of occupational balance on subjective health, quality of life, and health-related variables in community-dwelling older adults: A structural equation modeling approach

Abstract

Occupational balance is an important variable associated with health and quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the influence of occupational balance on health, quality of life, and other health-related variables using structural equation modeling. We analyzed data from 208 adults over 55 years old. Mean age of the participants was 70.21 years (SD 7.22). The research model for analysis was based on the results of previous studies addressing occupational balance and related variables such as stress, leisure satisfaction, life satisfaction, subjective health, quality of life, and participation. General fit indices of the final model were acceptable (x2/df = 1.708, p < .001, RMSEA = .058, TLI = .923, CFI = .929, and SRMR = .067). Although the size of effect was small to medium (.157–.249), occupational balance was identified as an independent variable directly or indirectly affecting subjective health, quality of life, and health-related variables in the final model. Our results showed that it is possible to improve subjective health and quality of life by promoting better occupational balance. Further studies developing an intervention program based on occupational balance are required to confirm the feasibility of the intervention and its effect on older adults’ health and quality of life in real-life circumstances.

Development and validation of a self-reported questionnaire to assess occupational balance in parents of preterm infants

“…There is evidence that informal caregiving leads to limited occupational balance [ 29 , 31 , 33 ] and a need for interventions to support informal caregivers’ occupational balance [ 33 , 34 ]. Furthermore, occupational balance was found to be associated with health, quality of life and well-being [ 32 , 35 – 38 ]. For example, Park et al reported direct effects of occupational balance on health, well-being and quality of life [ 38 ].…”

A Atuação Do Fisioterapeuta Na Minimização Dos Efeitos Colaterais De Pacientes Em Tratamento Quimioterápico

“…promovem maior satisfação e adesão dos pacientes e, a longo prazo, são economicamente mais atrativos (DANILOV et al, 2018). (JONGEN et al, 2017;PARK et al, 2021). Assim, a proposta "Desafio de talentos" contribuiu para uma participação mais diversificada dos pacientes com dor crônica e ofereceu um espaço virtual para compartilharem habilidades e competências significativas por meio de redes sociais.…”

Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Occupational Balance Questionnaire: An Instrument for Occupation-Based Research

“…Occupational therapy practice is based on the fundamental assumption that meaningful occupations play a key role in achieving and maintaining health and wellbeing by facilitating personal engagement and accomplishment [ 1 ]. This practice framework rests largely on the fact that occupational performance should involve an occupational balance (OB), i.e., a sense of harmony between occupations, becoming a necessary condition to ensure that occupations properly perform a process for obtaining health and wellness [ 2 ]. From an occupational perspective of health, it should be noted that there is a variety of risk factors that can affect the right use, choice, opportunity, or balance in an occupation, thereby resulting in occupational dysfunction, which may also involve other negative consequences such as occupational deprivation, occupational alienation, or occupational imbalance [ 3 ].…”

“…To date, several studies have provided some evidence that OB may be a major occupational determinant of health outcomes. On a positive note, the main research findings have suggested that OB is perceived as a good proxy of self-rated health [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and related to life satisfaction [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ] and health-related quality of life [ 2 , 9 ]. On the other hand, some studies have reported that occupational imbalance is linked to perceived stress [ 2 , 5 , 10 , 11 ].…”

“…The development of the Spanish version of the OBQ constituted a central part of the doctoral thesis done by P.P.-G. To our knowledge, this version has been used in several previous studies aimed at examining OB in Spanish adults [19][20][21]; therefore, publishing the results of the adaptation and validation of the instrument is crucial to enhancing the accuracy of the research focused on OB in the Spanish population. The present study had a double aim: (1) to translate and cross-culturally adapt the original OBQ version into Spanish (OBQ-E); (2) to analyze the psychometric properties of the OBQ-E for use in the Spanish population.…”