Abstract
The area of OT has been extended to preventive approaches from rehab. With regard to the increasing aging population, health professionals are trying to find effective approaches to maintaining and enhancing the health of healthy older adults. Although the concept of OB has a potential for preventive intervention, little is known about the scientific relationship between OB and health-related variables in older adults.
Primary Author and Speaker: Sangmi Park
Contributing Authors: Ji-Hyuk Park, Hae Jong Lee, Byoung-Jin Jeon, Eun Young Yoo, Jong Bae Kim
Older adults experience changes such as cognitive or physical decline and decreased roles. These changes have negative effects on their daily lives and social participation. The concept of occupational balance (OB) is closely related to the everyday lives of individuals and has been known to be an important factor for health and wellbeing. However, little is known about the effects of OB as an independent variable. This makes it difficult for occupational therapists to apply the concept of OB to intervention. The purpose of the present study is to explain how OB affects health, wellbeing, and related variables, which were reported to have correlation with OB, using structural equation modeling. Furthermore, the study explores specific preventive approaches in community settings to enhance the health and quality of life of older adults based on the results.
This quantitative method study recruited 225 adults over 55 years of age. Excepting 12 outliers and 5 uncompleted questionnaires, the self-reported data from 208 participants were analyzed. Participants were recruited through nonprobability quota sampling. Sampling categories included citizens living in metropolitan areas and small to medium-sized cities. Community-dwelling older adults who were able to engage in daily activities independently and answer the self-reported questionnaire were included.
Seven Korean version of quantitative measures were used : Life Balance Inventory, Leisure Satisfaction Scales, Perceived Stress Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation-Participation, WHO Quality of Life-Bref, and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Quantitative measures were statistically analyzed with SPSS and AMOS. The maximum likelihood method was used to estimate the coefficients. The hypothesized model for structural equation model analysis was based on the results from previous studies addressing 7 variables, including OB, subjective health, and quality of life of the elderly. Confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis were executed to test research questions.
Participants included 55 males and 153 females with an average age of 70.21±7.22. There were 153 metropolitan citizens among the 208 participants. Direct paths deviating significantly from the significance probability level of p=.05 were deleted based on the result of hypothesized model analysis. The process of modifying the model involved adding a new path and changing the direction of a path based on related research. Fit indices of the modified model were good with x2/df=1.708 (x2=877.917, df=514), p=.000, RMSEA=.058, CFI=.929, TLI=.923, SRMR=.067. OB directly affects leisure satisfaction (β=.238, p=.002) and stress (β=-.143, p=.060). Total effect of OB on leisure satisfaction was .238 (p=.005), on stress was -.249 (p=.007), on subjective health was .157 (p=.004), on quality of life was .212 (p=.004), on life satisfaction was .204 (p=.004), on participation was .222 (p=.004).
OB had a direct effect on leisure satisfaction and stress of a sample group. This could be used as evidence to support the use of OB in leisure participation or stress management interventions for older adults. The results of this study confirm that OB has an indirect effect on subjective health, quality of life, life satisfaction, and participation. This study is meaningful in terms of identifying OB as an independent variable that affects health, quality of life, and related variables. The results support the effectiveness of approaches using the concept of OB for older adults. Since the participants were living in urban areas, the results can possibly be applied selectively towards approaches for older adults living in the cities.
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