Family Balance Research Articles

O AFETO FAMILIAR E AS IMPLICAÇÕES DA GUARDA COMPARTILHADA: UMA ANÁLISE JURISPRUDENCIAL DO TRIBUNAL DE JUSTIÇA DO ESTADO DE RONDÔNIA

This article aimed to analyze how the Court of Justice of the State of Rondônia considers family affection and the implications of shared custody in its judicial decisions. Thus, it is understood that this topic holds significant relevance within the contemporary legal context, especially when examined through the lens of the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the State of Rondônia. Shared custody, as a legal institution, offers an approach that aims to prioritize the emotional well-being and development of children by ensuring they maintain close ties with both parents after separation. The methodology used was qualitative, descriptive, bibliographic, and documentary, focusing on the role of the Judiciary in matters involving shared custody of children and adolescents. This research will thus contribute to a more detailed understanding of the implications of shared custody on family affection, which will enable the formulation of more effective public policies and legal practices. By analyzing the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the State of Rondônia, it is expected to identify patterns, challenges, and best practices that may be used to enhance the implementation of shared custody, fostering a more balanced and healthy family environment for children .

The Role of Gender (M/F) in the Workplace: The Case of Municipality of Athens, Greece

Purpose: This article presents the results of a survey conducted on employees of the municipality of Athens, Greece, in the context of an extensive survey on the implementation of the European Charter for Gender Equality in Local Communities and regarding stereotypes and discrimination between men and women in the specific survey population. Methodology: In particular, a survey was developed aimed to investigate the existence of stereotypical perceptions about gender within the Municipality and the absence of awareness of the need to integrate gender equality in all municipal policies. The survey was conducted between June and September 2023, online. A total of 258 employees in various Services and Organizations of the municipality of Athens participated in the survey, 71% women and 27% men, with an average age of 49 years old. The results of the research show that the gender of employees had a negative impact in the working life for women, confirming its role in inequalities and reduced opportunities for career development. Findings: The results also revealed that women in greater degree compared to men, have suffered a slowdown in their professional development due to their personal-family responsibilities, demonstrating that balancing work and family life is a difficult equation, especially for female employees. The study highlights persistent gender disparities, impacting work life balance and career progression for women. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Its findings suggest a need for targeted policies that address gender-based barriers, promoting a more equitable work environment in municipal roles.

An inverted U-shaped relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among village clinic doctors: the moderating effect of information and communication technology use

BackgroundVillage clinic doctors are an integral part of the rural healthcare workforce. With the advancement of science and technology and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the prevalence of remote work and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) have increased significantly. However, these developments have also had an impact on the work family balance and mental well-being of village clinic doctors. The study aimed to explore how work-family conflict affected job burnout and what the role of ICT use was in this relationship.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected collected through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey conducted in December 2021 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 1,093 village clinic doctors participated in the survey. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the PROCESS macro in SPSS.ResultsThe results showed that an inverted U-shaped relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among village clinic doctors. Specifically, the squared term of work-family conflict had a negative coefficient (-0.324). The slope was positive (SL=2.291) at the low end of the X-range and negative (SH=-0.379) at the high end. The turning point occurred at X = 1.227(-2.309 ≤ X ≤ 1.812). Additionally, ICT use positively moderated between work-family conflict and job burnout (β1β4-β2β3 = 0.217, β4 > 0).ConclusionsThe work-family conflict has an inverted U-shaped effect on job burnout, while the use of ICT positively moderates this relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout. Policymakers should pay attention to the effects of ICT use and work-family conflict on job burnout among village clinic doctors.

Early Childhood Education and Care Services, and Parents’ Work–Life Balance

Parents’ work–life balance represents a major challenge, especially for those who have young children. The present article aims to identify the perceptions of parents relating to the purpose of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services, care responsibilities, and factors that affect the balance between caring responsibilities for children and the professional career of parents. Using a database with 825 parents, who have children aged between 0 and 6 years enrolled in the ECEC system (nurseries, kindergartens), we performed a descriptive statistical analysis and a logistic regression to identify factors that affect the balance between caring responsibilities and career. The results indicate an appreciation of the usefulness of ECEC services (nurseries/kindergartens) by parents and underline the importance of parents’ involvement in the activities of ECEC services. Results also show that three factors affect the balance between caring responsibilities for children and professional career as follows: the residence area, the educational level, and the proximity to ECEC services. The need to develop ECEC services in Romania is correlated with the work–family balance field. Policymakers should focus more on structural changes and the development of early childhood education and care services, as well as the expansion of such services in both rural and urban areas.

Purpose: A potential catalyst and anchor for optimal work–family balance and well‐being

AbstractWorking parents often report difficulties in establishing optimal work–family balance, and such difficulties tend to yield poorer parent well‐being, parenting quality, and child well‐being. Despite advances in understanding of the long‐lasting and multifaceted benefits of purpose in life, up to this point, scant attention has been given to the concept of purpose as a practical means for promoting better parent well‐being and parenting quality, which also has far‐reaching impacts on child well‐being and trajectories. The goal of this paper is to discuss purpose as a potential catalyst and anchor for work–family balance and its associated outcomes of parenting well‐being, parenting quality, and child well‐being. Drawing from ecological systems, family systems, life course, and family resilience theories, this paper presents a conceptual model that depicts these relationships. Recommendations for advancing future research that supports theory building from this work as well as practice are provided.

Exploring the dynamics of alcohol use, poverty and the role of social context in Athens, Greece

Abstract Background A body of research conducted across diverse national context, including the United Kingdom, Russia, Denmark and Norway, shows a robust link between poverty and increased alcohol related harm, even after accounting for different drinking patterns. This paper examines the unexplored relationship between poverty and alcohol use in Athens, Greece, focusing on alcohol’s impact related to the familial and social life of individuals and whether this system is affected by poverty. Methods This is a 2021 cross-sectional study, with 300 adult participants of mean age 45.8. We administered four questionnaires. The participants were equally distributed above and below the poverty threshold, sampled randomly. The latter were beneficiaries of social services. The data analysis established two scoring variables: the level of dysfunction from alcohol use and the level of strength of family ties. We computed their correlation and multiple linear regressions to assess their relationships. Results Individuals not residing in poverty exhibit a higher frequency of alcohol use (81.9%) than their counterparts (57.1%), however, those living in poverty tend to consume greater quantities of alcohol per occasion (p < 0.001) and reported elevated levels of dysfunction within familial and social interactions. Conclusions This study indicates that different consumption patterns are tied to diverse socioeconomic strata, with binge drinking behaviours specifically linked to financial hardship. Also, alcohol related dysfunction and family and social dynamics are affected by poverty. Our findings show that as dysfunction attributed to alcohol use increases, participants socialize less and report lower levels of well-being. In contrast those with balanced family ties and social encounters exhibit the opposite trend. This study warrants further exploration in cities in Southern Europe. Key messages • To mitigate alcohol use, policies empowering social and familial connections are of high importance. • Uncovering poverty as a factor for binge drinking can inform prevention strategies.

G4 & the balanced metric family – a novel approach to solving binary classification problems in medical device validation & verification studies

BackgroundIn medical device validation and verification studies, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) is often used as a primary endpoint despite multiple reports showing its limitations. Hence, researchers are encouraged to consider alternative metrics as primary endpoints. A new metric called G4 is presented, which is the geometric mean of sensitivity, specificity, the positive predictive value, and the negative predictive value. G4 is part of a balanced metric family which includes the Unified Performance Measure (also known as P4) and the Matthews’ Correlation Coefficient (MCC). The purpose of this manuscript is to unveil the benefits of using G4 together with the balanced metric family when analyzing the overall performance of binary classifiers.ResultsSimulated datasets encompassing different prevalence rates of the minority class were analyzed under a multi-reader-multi-case study design. In addition, data from an independently published study that tested the performance of a unique ultrasound artificial intelligence algorithm in the context of breast cancer detection was also considered. Within each dataset, AUROC was reported alongside the balanced metric family for comparison. When the dataset prevalence and bias of the minority class approached 50%, all three balanced metrics provided equivalent interpretations of an AI’s performance. As the prevalence rate increased / decreased and the data became more imbalanced, AUROC tended to overvalue / undervalue the true classifier performance, while the balanced metric family was resistant to such imbalance. Under certain circumstances where data imbalance was strong (minority-class prevalence < 10%), MCC was preferred for standalone assessments while P4 provided a stronger effect size when evaluating between-groups analyses. G4 acted as a middle ground for maximizing both standalone assessments and between-groups analyses.ConclusionsUse of AUROC as the primary endpoint in binary classification problems provides misleading results as the dataset becomes more imbalanced. This is explicitly noticed when incorporating AUROC in medical device validation and verification studies. G4, P4, and MCC do not share this limitation and paint a more complete picture of a medical device’s performance in a clinical setting. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to explore the balanced metric family when evaluating binary classification problems.

Postpartum Mental Health Care Use Among Parents During Simultaneous Parental Leave

Flexible parental leave schemes can help families balance work, childcare, and postpartum treatment, including treatment for mental health. In Sweden, both parents are eligible to use parental leave simultaneously in the first year after birth; however, the consequences for postpartum mental health care uptake remain underinvestigated. To examine the association between parents' use of simultaneous parental leave and their use of postpartum mental health care in Sweden. This cohort study obtained baseline data from national registries in Sweden, including live births of singleton offspring between January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, and simultaneous parental leave use (any vs none) in the 12 months after birth. The population-based sample was composed of parental dyads (mothers and fathers) who were eligible for simultaneous parental leave and were followed up from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2016. Statistical analyses were conducted between December 15, 2023, and August 14, 2024. Simultaneous parental leave use up to 12 months post partum. Total population register data were used to identify maternal and paternal outpatient care visits for mental health (substance use disorder [SUD], mood or affective disorders, and stress-related disorders) and psychotropic prescription dispensations (antidepressants and anxiolytics) during the first postpartum year. Logistic regression was applied to estimate the odds of these outcomes by simultaneous parental leave use, controlling for parents' age, sociodemographic characteristics, and prebirth mental health care use. Robustness analyses using propensity score matching were performed. The sample comprised 207 283 parental dyads, of whom 153 342 (74.0%) did not use simultaneous parental leave in the first postpartum year and 53 941 (26.0%) did. Among those who used simultaneous parental leave, the mean (SE) age at childbirth was 29.63 (0.02) years for mothers and 32.80 (0.03) years for fathers. Compared with mothers who did not use parental leave simultaneously with their partners, mothers who did were more likely to receive antidepressant prescriptions in the first postpartum year (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.02-1.11). Fathers who used simultaneous parental leave vs those who did not had increased odds of SUD-related outpatient care visits (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.20). Longer simultaneous parental leave was associated with greater odds of mental health care use for both parents, and earlier leave was associated with greater odds of health care use by mothers. Findings for mothers, but not fathers, remained significant in robustness analyses using propensity score matching. This cohort study found that simultaneous parental leave use was associated with greater health care uptake for postpartum mental health conditions in both mothers and fathers. This finding supports the need to consider the benefits of generous family policies as well as the risks of structural obstacles to postpartum mental health care access across the world.

Part-Time Paradox: The Rise of Female Part-Time Employment and Its Impacts on Germany's Labor Market

Despite an employment rate of 76.6% for women in Germany, significant issues persist with regard to the labour market situation of women in the country. These include the prevalence of part-time work, the under-representation of women in senior management positions and the existence of pay gaps. This article employs data from the German Statistical Office spanning the period from 2000 to 2022 to examine the growth in part-time employment among women and its ramifications. The paper demonstrates that part-time work is a prevalent phenomenon in female-dominated sectors such as health and education. This is driven by a combination of economic conditions, the necessity to reconcile work and family life, and legal regulations. This situation consequently results in women facing lower remuneration and constrained career prospects. The necessity to balance work and family responsibilities represents a significant challenge for women, impeding their career development and negatively impacting their job performance and workplace commitment. These dynamics serve to perpetuate gender inequalities in the labour market, thereby preventing women from realising their full potential at work. This article makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on the relationship between part-time work and gender inequalities in the German labour market by providing a detailed analysis of this complex relationship. The article offers valuable insights into the potential of legal regulations, such as the Temporary Part-Time Work Act enacted in 2019, to alleviate the adverse effects of part-time work on women. The research is distinctive in its comprehensive examination of the socio-economic dynamics of part-time work, its legal framework, and its impact on gender equality, based on an extensive data analysis conducted over an extended period. By offering a detailed and nuanced understanding of these issues, the study draws attention to the ongoing challenges women face in the labour market and suggests potential policy interventions to promote gender equality. This article emphasises the necessity for targeted measures to facilitate women's career progression and offset the adverse consequences of part-time employment, thereby contributing to a more equitable labour market.

Toward sustainability: mechanism between work–family balance and fertility intention with decent work as the mediating role

The relationship between work and family is essential to sustainability, affecting the fertility intention and fertility behavior of childbearing age. This study aims to explore the following research questions to fill the research gaps: (1) Can WFB improve individuals’ fertility intentions (FI)? (2) How does DW affect individuals’ FI? Drawing on the job demands-resources theory (JD-R) and life history theory, we have developed a theoretical framework of work–family balance (WFB), decent work (DW), fertility intention (FI), organizational support (OS), and family support (FS). Data was collected through a questionnaire in China, and hypotheses were tested. We find that WFB significantly and positively affects DW; DW significantly positively affects FI; WFB significantly influences FI, and DW is a mediator between WFB and FI. However, OS and FS have no significant moderating effects on WFB and DW. The theoretical implications of this study are that it preliminarily explores the spillover effects of DW on family life, enriching the research on DW. The findings can be applied to formulating government policies on fertility support, human resource management practices, and personal work–family development.

Personal finance tips for the early career radiologist and beyond.

This paper aims to provide a summary of the basics of personal finance, specifically as it pertains to medical trainees and early career physicians. While not sufficient by itself, it may serve as a jumping off point for further reading and investigation into different aspects of personal finance. It includes discussion of spending and saving, emergency funds, insurance, student loans, and investments and tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Graduating financially well-rounded radiologists and physicians allows for a more effective balance of patient care, education, family, and interests outside of work.

What can talent management do about involuntary remote working in the post-COVID-19 era? Spanish IT employees’ organizational commitment

The purpose of this study is to understand the role of professional isolation and work–family balance (WFB) as talent retention strategies, considering organizational commitment (OC) and the mediating role of job satisfaction (JS) among IT employees in the technological industry have been forced by their companies to telework. While previous research has examined the connections between professional isolation (PI), OC, WFB, and JS separately in the context of teleworking, this research proposes an integrative model examining the connections between all these work-related constructs and allowing for mediating and moderating effects. It focuses on IT employees in the technological industry forced to telework, a setting underexamined by previous literature. The final sample is composed of 294 teleworkers forced to work partly at home by their companies. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied, and SmartPLS 4.0.8.7 software was used to analyze the data and test the hypotheses. Our results indicate a positive and significant direct effect of WFB on JS and OC, a negative and significant effect of PI on JS and OC, and a positive and significant effect of JS on OC. Our results also indicate that JS mediates the relationship between WFB and OC and between PI and OC and that neither time spent teleworking nor gender moderates the association between PI and OC. Overall, our results suggest that while PI negatively affects OC, JS, and WFB are the most relevant determinants of OC in the context of teleworking. In addition, a complementary IPMA analysis reinforces this view by suggesting that WFB and JS are the most important factors in determining OC performance among IT employees working from home, while PI is not important. The originality of this article is the proposal of an integrative model examining the connections between JS, WFB, PI, and OC and allowing for mediating (JS) and moderating (gender and percentage of time teleworking) effects from a talent management perspective. Moreover, this study focuses on information technology companies and the situation of forced remote working, two settings that have been underexamined. The results could help companies with forced teleworking develop effective strategies to attract, develop, and retain top talent in the information technology industry in the post-pandemic era. It is important for practitioners to consider the interactions between diverse work-related dimensions and the mediating and moderating effects between them to efficiently implement talent management strategies and reinforce OC and, in turn, economic performance.

The rhetoric and reality of social support policies: working mothers’ lived experiences of state and employer support for work-family balance in Lithuania

ABSTRACT Work and family responsibilities permeate many aspects of everyday life and this is particularly true for working mothers. The aim of our research is to analyze the role of the state and the employer in supporting work – family balance (WFB) through the lived experiences of working mothers in Lithuania, thereby shedding empirical light on the implementation of WFB policies in a post-Soviet context. Working mothers in Lithuania are unsatisfied with the idiosyncratic adoption of legal state support at the organizational level, with the domestic geographical challenges regarding childcare availability, and with the additional challenges to combine work and family facing single mothers.

Influence path of work-family conflict on primary care physicians' resignation intention: Data from a Chinese cross-sectional survey.

Primary care physicians and their teams are the leading force in constructing primary medical services, undertaking the critical responsibility of residents' essential health, and also related to realizing the national health goal. However, primary care physicians generally have a high turnover rate due to problems such as high work pressure, low salary levels, and limited career development. Therefore, exploring primary care physicians' resignation intentions plays a vital role in promoting the construction of primary care physicians' health service system. This study explores the factors influencing the resignation intentions of primary care physicians, specifically examining the roles of work-family conflict, job satisfaction, professional identity, and emotional exhaustion. By understanding these dynamics, the research aims to inform strategies that can enhance the stability and effectiveness of primary care services, ultimately contributing to the improvement of public health infrastructure and achieving national health goals. This investigation will utilize structural equation modeling to analyze the interrelationships among the identified variables, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for addressing the high turnover rates among primary care physicians. This study uses the work-family conflict, job satisfaction, professional identity, and emotional exhaustion scales. The data comes from a cross-sectional survey in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2022. Using SPSS 27 and Mplus8.3 software to analyze 1205 primary care physicians and their team members, the selected cases all answered the relevant questions of resignation intention. The potential relationship among work-family conflict, job satisfaction, professional identity, emotional exhaustion, and family doctor resignation intention was explored by constructing structural equations. Work-family conflict can directly and positively affect primary care physicians' resignation intention (β = -0.546, p < 0.001). The results of the mediation model found that job satisfaction, professional identity, and emotional exhaustion were significantly related to work-family conflict, and primary care physicians' resignation intention has a significant mediating effect. It mainly includes six intermediary approaches: one is through the independent intermediary effect of job satisfaction; the second is through the independent intermediary effect of professional identity; the third is through the chain intermediary effect between Job satisfaction and professional identity; the fourth is through the intermediary effect of Job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion chain intermediary; fifth is through the chain intermediary of professional identity and emotional exhaustion; sixth is through the complex chain intermediary of job satisfaction, professional identity, and emotional exhaustion. Primary care physicians have a high score in resignation intention, which deserves continuous attention. Relevant department can help primary care physicians balance work and family roles, provide them with appropriate resources and rewards, as well as a good working environment and career development opportunities, to improve their job satisfaction and professional identity and reduce emotional exhaustion, thereby reducing the risk of resignation intention.

Coping with the absence of parents: growing up in military families in Slovenia

ABSTRACT Growing up in a military family with long-term and frequently absent parents presents unique psychosocial challenges to children and families. The purpose of this paper is to examine what growing up in a military family with absent parents looks like from a child’s perspective, what the biggest challenges are, and how children cope with them. We took a life course approach and conducted retrospective, semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 adult children from 11 military families in Slovenia, which revealed that prolonged parental absences leave a strong impression on children’s individual biographies and everyday life. This influence is evident in their present and past everyday life throughout their life trajectories. It particularly affects relationships with parents and relationships between parents, leads to frequent changes in daily routines and disrupts the family balance as well as causes anxiety and fear for the parent. From the children’s perspective, it also affects their parents’ parenting practices (how their parents raised them) and how they manage their lives.

Sosialisasi Gizi dan Penyuluhan Keluarga Berencana Sebagai Upaya Menurunkan Angka Stunting di Desa Kemiri

Stunting is a chronic nutritional problem in young children that has serious implications for physical growth, cognitive development, and individual productivity. This condition is caused by a range of complex factors, including poor maternal nutrition and environmental conditions affecting quality of nutrition. The first 1,000 days of life represent a critical period for stunting prevention, as children's brain growth and development are particularly rapid during this time. Socialization regarding the importance of balanced nutrition and Family Planning programs is a strategic step to support optimal child growth and prevent stunting. This program begins with obtaining permits and coordinating with the Head of Kemiri Village to identify appropriate targets, as well as involving local neighborhood association in surveying facilities and infrastructure. The initiative aims to raise awareness in Kemiri Village about stunting and its prevention, and to educate the importance of balanced nutrition for supporting optimal child growth. Through socialization and counseling, it is hoped that the community will be able to recognize signs of stunting and take appropriate actions. This aligns with the village’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly in achieving the target of a hunger-free village. By reducing the prevalence of stunting, the quality of life for the community can be significantly improved.

Spatial clusters for demand and supply of early childhood education and care services in Italy

In recent years, concern has increased about affordable and high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Such services can help balance work and family life, increase workforce participation, promote gender equality, and increase fertility rates. ECEC services are then essential, especially for countries facing ultralow fertility rates like Italy. To face these challenges, the Italian government has included an unprecedented investment in the recovery and resilience plan financed with Next Generations EU funds to increase the supply of ECEC services and make them more equitably distributed across the country. However, socio-economic policies need a comprehensive understanding of demand dynamics and the intricate interplay between supply and demand of such services. Therefore, in this article, we propose a novel analysis of the complex combination of supply and demand of Italian ECEC services. We explore patterns of this combination in terms of groups of spatial areas sharing similar structures of service coverage and public expenditure rates in ECEC, as well as other socio-demographic and economic factors such as female employment, education, and grandparent rates. Our empirical findings confirm how Italy is characterized by several distinct territorial models and how some are shared across multiple regions. Current empirical findings suggest a lack of uniform governance across the Italian territory. Policymakers can use these results to plan, discuss, and implement area-specific welfare strategies regarding ECEC services.

GUARDA COMPARTILHADA: HISTÓRICO E PREVISÃO LEGAL

Shared custody has gained increasing relevance in the Brazilian legal landscape as a mechanism to promote balanced and healthy interaction between parents and children after the dissolution of the marital union. This article analyzes the historical evolution and legal framework of shared custody in Brazil, with an emphasis on Article 1584 of Law No. 10,406/2002, amended by Law No. 11,698/2008, which establishes guidelines for the implementation of this custody model. The study addresses the historical context and the legislative motivation behind the implementation of shared custody, highlighting the role of social and cultural changes in valuing parental co-responsibility. The legal analysis details how Article 1584 promotes shared custody as the preferred model, except in cases of unfeasibility, emphasizing the importance of cooperation and communication between parents for the well-being of the children. Additionally, the article discusses the benefits of shared custody for the child, including maintaining emotional bonds with both parents, continuity of a balanced family environment, and the promotion of healthy emotional development. The legal provision of shared custody seeks to encourage responsible and collaborative parenting, mitigating the negative impacts of parental separation on children. It concludes that shared custody, as provided in Article 1584 of Law No. 10,406/2002, represents a significant advancement in Brazilian legislation, promoting a parenting practice that prioritizes the interests and well-being of the child, while encouraging the active and balanced participation of both parents in raising their children.

More is better? Family leisure involvement and individual leisure satisfaction among Chinese adult workers

ABSTRACT Family leisure activities have been gaining increasing attention in recent years. This study aims to identify the characteristics of family leisure involvement among adult workers in urban China, explore the relationship between family leisure and leisure satisfaction, and further analyse the possible interrelationship between core and balance family leisure activities. Paper-and-pencil questionnaire surveys of activity diaries were collected from 519 residents of Zhongshan, a prefecture-level city in China. Linear regression analysis suggested that balance family leisure activities were not associated with individual leisure satisfaction, while core family leisure had a negative impact. Core family leisure also moderated the relationship between balance family leisure and personal leisure satisfaction. A moderate amount of core family leisure combined with balance family leisure increased leisure satisfaction. This study contributes to the core and balance theory of family leisure functioning by exploring the interrelationship between the two types of family leisure activities in a non-Western context.

Occupational balance of children and families in early childhood interventions

ABSTRACT We examined occupational balance, individuals’ level of satisfaction with their ability to meet various occupational needs through their activity patterns and quality of life (QOL), in families of children receiving early intervention and preschool special education services, using a web-based, cross-sectional, non-experimental survey design. The survey consisted of the Life Balance Inventory, the Kemp Quality of Life Scale, the Mastery/Control section of the Kansas Inventory of Parental Perceptions due to the relationship of control to QOL, and open-ended questions. While most participants classified themselves as moderately balanced or very balanced overall, the majority (60.9%) were unbalanced or very unbalanced in health. Fewer participants reported high quality of life compared to other non-disabled adults. Participants identified both barriers and facilitators of occupational balance related to service delivery. Occupational therapists should utilize intervention strategies that enhance occupational balance.