An exploration of boredom within occupation

Boredom is a universal phenomenon of which there is no clear definition or agreed understanding of the overall causes, but is linked with occupation and a sense of meaning. Boredom is an area of concern to occupational therapy due to the association with the ways in which people participate within their daily occupations. The dissertation explores the phenomenon of boredom in occupation by reviewing current literature within occupational therapy and also from generic sources such as psychology and nursing professions. Exploration of the literature reveals a lack of research into the experience of boredom within occupational therapy and is therefore necessary to establish the evidence base. Literature within psychology and nursing indicates potential causes and consequences of boredom using quantitative methodologies, but highlights the need for deeper understanding using qualitative approaches. Occupational therapy research in relation to boredom has tended to focus on groups such as young people and people with substance misuse, which have identified that boredom is an occupational concern risk. However, there is a distinct lack of studies exploring the perspectives of people with diagnosed mental health conditions. Part two of the dissertation will comprise of a research proposal to undertake research which aims to explore the experiences of boredom for people with a diagnosed mental health condition. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach will use semi structured interviewing to explore the lived experiences of boredom for three people who have a diagnosed mental health condition and are acute psychiatric inpatients. The study aims to contribute to the evidence base by increasing understanding of the experience and enhancing clinical practice with the client group.msc_otunpub2536_ethesesunpu