Occupational Science

This research theme examines the representation and communication of occupational therapy and occupational science in public domains, particularly focusing on media coverage such as newspapers, and the resulting impact on public understanding and professional expectations. It matters because public perceptions shape societal support, recruitment, policy, and funding for the professions, and also influence client engagement and access to services. Understanding these portrayals can uncover gaps between professional self-concept and public knowledge, guiding improved advocacy and education.

This theme foregrounds the development of novel theoretical constructs in occupational science, such as occupational consciousness and complementarity. It explores how these concepts critique existing hegemonic structures, address underrepresented epistemologies (including non-Anglophone perspectives), and propose frameworks that encompass complex, intersubjective realities of occupation. Advancing such conceptualizations is essential to deepen the discipline’s scientific rigor, social responsiveness, and global inclusivity.

This theme investigates the constructs of patterns of daily occupations (PDO) and occupational balance (OB), exploring their conceptual definitions, relationships, and practical relevance. It is crucial because both PDO and OB have established empirical associations with health and well-being, forming core elements in occupational therapy assessment and intervention. Clarifying their interplay facilitates theoretical advancement and informs clinical practice aimed at optimizing occupational engagement for improved quality of life.

This theme encompasses the evolving paradigms of occupational health, safety, and therapy, driven by factors such as globalization, technological transformation, precarious work, demographic shifts, psychosocial risks, and global crises like COVID-19. It emphasizes expanding conventional occupational safety and health (OSH) approaches to holistic, worker-centered well-being and inclusivity, fostering transdisciplinary collaboration and new educational frameworks. Addressing this theme is vital for maintaining relevance, effectiveness, and equity in occupational health practice and research amidst rapidly changing work and societal contexts.

This theme addresses developments and expansions in occupational therapy academic training, focusing on graduate education level advancements and curricular content responsiveness to diverse domains such as school-based practice. It is significant because evolving healthcare and societal needs require occupational therapists to attain higher qualifications and competencies across varied settings, including educational and community environments. Insights in this theme inform accreditation policies, curriculum design, and specialized training that enable practitioners to fulfill contemporary role expectations.

This theme investigates the approach of occupational therapy in managing sexual health, an often sensitive and under-researched domain that intersects physical, emotional, and social dimensions of occupation. Insights into intervention methods, communication strategies, and education are crucial to enhancing client-centered care and collaboration with other health professionals. Addressing sexual health expands occupational therapy’s scope and effectiveness in promoting holistic well-being.

This theme explores the innovative use of creative arts, specifically circus, as a meaningful occupation in occupational therapy practice. It examines applications at individual and community levels, and socio-political contexts, highlighting potential for promoting occupational justice and community development. Leveraging unconventional occupations broadens the discipline’s impact, supports engagement of marginalized groups, and fosters social inclusion.

This theme synthesizes research identifying multifactorial determinants of occupational accidents within the construction sector, a notably hazardous occupation. Recognizing individual, environmental, psychological, and equipment-related risk factors is fundamental to developing targeted interventions for safety promotion and accident prevention. Such knowledge is critical to reduce injury rates and promote safer work environments.

Focusing on adults with intellectual disabilities, this theme investigates the intersection of occupational participation, occupational justice, and quality of life from the perspective of those with lived experience. Developing occupation-centered models of quality of life is key to tailor occupational therapy interventions, promote social inclusion, and support personal well-being for this population.

This theme examines the lived experiences of undocumented young people in the UK navigating the challenges of irregular status. It emphasizes how these youth employ occupational engagement, future-oriented thinking, and relational support to endure precarity and foster resilience. Understanding these strategies informs occupational justice-oriented practices and policy advocacy to support marginalized populations.