Breaking a cycle of perceived failure: The process of making changes toward a more balanced lifestyle
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Balancing Everyday Life (BEL) is a new lifestyle intervention for mental health services users, developed to support meaningful engagement in daily activities and a balanced lifestyle. This study aimed at exploring the BEL participants' process of making lifestyle changes. METHODS: This constructivist grounded theory study took place in Sweden from 2013-2017 and explored the processes of 19 BEL participants when making lifestyle changes. Data were collected through 29 interviews. RESULTS: A process of breaking a cycle of perceived failure and making changes toward a more balanced lifestyle was constructed, consisting of five categories: Going at it gently: change is an on-going process; Support for progress, permission to fail; Prioritising and setting boundaries; Adjusting for a sustainable balance; and Caring for a valued self. Each category included a strategy for change as well as a related inner change. Strategies involved learning and trying techniques for making changes toward a more balanced lifestyle, whereas the personal changes often involved a more self-compassionate approach and allowing oneself to utilise these techniques. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to knowledge in the process of making lifestyle changes, specifically, how strategies for change and inner changes interact and can support personal recovery toward mental health. This knowledge could help to support clients in making personally meaningful changes toward a more balanced lifestyle as well as inform future research in the process of making change.
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Participants reported the BEL program structure and content tailored to their skills and interests were helpful, along with opportunities to connect with peers and share life experiences in a supportive environment.
“Overall, participants reported the BEL program structure and content tailored to their skills and interests were helpful, along with opportunities to connect with peers and share life experiences in a supportive environment (69–71)”
From Contributions of a time use perspective in community mental health practice: a scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [69]
The BEL group components encouraged reflection, envisioning and connecting to a more positive future, and sustaining change.
“The group components also encouraged reflection, envisioning and connecting to a more positive future, and sustaining change (69–71).”
From Contributions of a time use perspective in community mental health practice: a scoping review (2024) · cites this paper as [69]
An important dimension of therapeutic effectiveness is how interventions are experienced, the degree to which they are impactful, and the change processes involved from the perspectives of those accessing services.
“Yet, an important dimension of therapeutic effectiveness is how interventions are experienced, the degree to which they are impactful and the change processes involved from the perspectives of those accessing services (24, 31).”
From Implementing an action over inertia group program in community residential rehabilitation services: group participant and facilitator perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
The social dimension of this approach should also not be discounted: the group provided participants with a supportive structure for building awareness, for experimenting with making changes and reinforcing success; a counter experience to tackling and failing at large goals alone.
“The social dimension of this approach should also not be discounted: the group provided participants with a supportive structure for building awareness, for experimenting with making changes and reinforcing success; a counter experience to tackling and failing at large goals alone (31).”
From Implementing an action over inertia group program in community residential rehabilitation services: group participant and facilitator perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
A similar process of gaining momentum has also been described elsewhere.
“A similar process of gaining momentum has also been described elsewhere (31, 42, 45).”
From Implementing an action over inertia group program in community residential rehabilitation services: group participant and facilitator perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
This speaks to the interactive process between action and belief.
“This speaks to the interactive process between action and belief (31).”
From Implementing an action over inertia group program in community residential rehabilitation services: group participant and facilitator perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [31]
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- Authors
- Lund, K., Argentzell, E., Bejerholm, U., & Eklund, M.
- Affiliations
- Lund University (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Lund, Kristine
- Venue
- Australian Occupational Therapy Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2019-07-25
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 627-636
- ISSN
- 0045-0766 (ISSN-L)
- 1440-1630
- OpenAlex
- W2964061720
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Australian Occupational Therapy Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Vetenskapsrådet (Reg. No. 521-2013-2522)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Therapy Practice and Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Keywords
- lifestyle intervention, lifestyle modification, mental health service users, perceived failure, self-compassion, personal recovery, boundary setting, priority setting, inner change, change strategies
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Life Style, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Occupational Therapy, Qualitative Research, Grounded Theory
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