A phenomenological study of occupational engagement in recovery from mental illness
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Recovery from mental illness has been described as a process involving personal growth and a search for meaning. Occupation is a primary medium for human development as well as the creation of life meaning, suggesting the exploration of recovery from an occupational perspective is warranted. PURPOSE: To explore the experience and meaning of occupation for 713 people who self-identified as being in recovery from mental illness. METHODS: Recovery narratives were collected from participants in conversational interviews that were recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were analysed using hermeneutic phenomenology. FINDINGS: A range of experiences were evident in the recovery narratives, from complete disengagement to full engagement in occupations. Insights into the experience and meaning of different states of occupation were revealed. IMPLICATIONS: All forms of occupational engagement, including disengagement, can be meaningful in the recovery process. Increased understanding of different modes of occupational engagement will assist therapists to support recovery more effectively.
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Others have identified the ways in which not only cognitive intrusions and disruptions, but also failed efforts to make sense of experiences and overcome difficulties can spiral into a diminished sense of agency and capability, withdrawal and demoralization.
“Others too have identified the ways in which not only cognitive intrusions and disruptions, but also failed efforts to make sense of experiences and overcome difficulties can spiral into a diminished sense of agency and capability, withdrawal and demoralization (42, 43).”
From Implementing an action over inertia group program in community residential rehabilitation services: group participant and facilitator perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [43]
Activity engagement and forms of disengagement play an important role in the recovery process.
“The results showed that activity engagement, and also forms of disengagement, played an important role in the recovery process.”
From Exploring mediators of the recovery process over time among mental health service users, using a mixed model regression analysis based on cluster RCT data (2020) · cites this paper as [18]
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- Authors
- Sutton, D. J., Hocking, C. S., & Smythe, L. A.
- Affiliations
- Auckland University of Technology (NZ)
- Liz A. Smythe, PhD, RM, RGON, is Associate Professor, School of Health Care Practice, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
- Corresponding author
- Sutton, Daniel J.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2012-06
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 142-150
- ISSN
- 0008-4174 (ISSN-L)
- 1911-9828
- OpenAlex
- W2162574298
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 17.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Tuwhera (Auckland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- 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 › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Keywords
- occupational engagement, mental health recovery, meaning of occupation, disengagement, recovery narratives, lived experience, personal growth, occupational therapy practice
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Mental Disorders, Employment, Female, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Male, Middle Aged, Social Adjustment, Social Behavior, Recovery of Function
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