Exploring risk factors for developing occupational ill health – departing from an occupational perspective

Abstract

Background Sick leave due to stress-related mental ill health increases in society. In occupational therapy, occupational balance is considered important for experiencing health and well-being. Thus, knowledge regarding occupational balance and occupational value constitute essential parts of occupational therapists’ work with people suffering from occupational ill health. Objective The aim of this study is to analyse the relationships between sociodemographic factors, occupational value, occupational balance and perceived health in people suffering from occupational ill health. Methods In a quantitative cross-sectional study data from a total of 218 individuals were included, 192 women, 22 men and 4 individuals who did not specify their gender. Data were collected by means of surveys prior to an occupational therapy intervention. The instruments used included OVal-pd, OBQ, EQ5D and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Data were analysed using regression and decision tree analysis. Results The results show that individuals who experience an imbalance in their everyday life and who have few or no experiences of daily occupations imprinted by socio-symbolic occupational value experienced lower perceived health. Conclusions Low level of experiences of balance in daily life and occupational value seems to be the main risk factors for the development of occupational ill health, rather than sociodemographic factors.