Occupation according to adolescents: Daily occupations categorized based on adolescents’ experiences

Abstract

The categorizations of occupation commonly used in occupational science and therapy today lack empirical foundations for children and adolescents. Without common definition or conceptualization, the ability to understand and evaluate the impact of occupation on people’s lives is limited. Research in these areas has predominantly been conducted with adults and research about children and adolescents has mainly focused on specific occupations and/or diagnoses. The study aimed to identify experience-based categories of occupation from the perspective of adolescents. Through qualitative interviews with 10 participants aged 12-15, data were collected and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Eight experience-based categories were identified: experiencing change of time perception, experiencing enjoyment and satisfaction, experiencing challenge and competence, experiencing boredom and tediousness, experiencing deeper engagement, experiencing relaxation and recovery, experiencing need, necessity or neutrality, and experiencing self-identification. The categories cover a variety of experiences, and show connections to earlier research. The findings show a possible way of understanding adolescents’ experience of occupation, and contribute to earlier research with an adolescent perspective. Further research is needed to confirm their relevance within other groups and contexts and can be used in further exploration of conceptualization.