Occupational balance and satisfaction with daily occupations in persons with depression or anxiety disorders

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ABSTRACT Introduction: Occupational balance and satisfaction with daily occupations are two central concepts in occupational science. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore associations between different aspects of occupational balance and satisfaction with daily occupations. A second aim was to explore whether different aspects of occupational balance predicted satisfaction with daily occupations 12 months later. Methods: The present study had an exploratory correlational longitudinal pilot study design and was part of a project in which the Tree Theme Method was evaluated for patients with depression and/or anxiety disorders. Data collected directly after the intervention (n=107) and 12 months later (n=84) were used in the present study. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ) and the Satisfaction with Daily Occupations (SDO) were used, and binary logistic regressions were used to explore associations between them. Results: Statistically significant associations were found between the following aspects of occupational balance: Balance between work, home, family, leisure, rest, and sleep; Having neither too much nor too little to do during a regular week; Satisfaction with time spent in rest, recovery, and sleep and satisfaction with daily occupations directly after the intervention. The occupational balance item Balance between energy-giving/energy-taking occupations directly after the intervention predicted satisfaction with daily occupations 12 months later. Conclusion: This study provides some support for the assumption about an association between occupational balance and satisfaction with daily occupations. Studies with larger sample sizes and in other cultures are recommended to confirm the presence of these associations and/or to find other associations.