An Integrative Review of Occupational Science and Theoretical Literature Exploring Transition

Abstract

An occupational perspective of the experience of transition has been developed in the peer reviewed occupational science literature. While that literature describes the elements of transition, a theory of transition has not been posited. This integrative review aims to evaluate 1) how the literature that has taken an occupational perspective captures the phenomenon of transition in healthy populations, 2) what theoretical literature beyond occupational science describes transition in healthy populations, and 3) the areas of overlap, unique contributions, and omissions that emerge from reviewing these bodies of literature. Journals in OTDBase were searched for an occupational perspective on transition for non-disabled populations. The data from this literature were organized into seven strands, with supporting elements. Then the CINAHL, EconLit, PsycINFO, and Social Science Citation Index databases were searched for theories of transition. Five theories met the inclusion criteria. Overlapping areas between these two bodies of literature included defining transition, addressing transition at the individual level, and strategies to improve the outcomes of transition. Omissions in both sets of literature included transitions at community and population levels, the influence of the physical environment, and a lack of recognition of the deeply rooted Westernized modes of understanding about transitions. This integrative review suggests there is a reasonable body of literature from which to develop a theory of transition that takes an occupational perspective.