Towards a Dynamic Understanding of Occupational Balance (Forum)

Occupational balance is viewed as one of the most important philosophical beliefs within occupational science and occupational therapy. However, since its original formulation in the philosophy of occupational therapy, few attempts have been made to develop a more comprehensive and theoretical concept satisfying a dynamic set of demands. Thus, “balance” still remains an abstract and almost propagandistic type of concept alternatively a static relationship between the core categories, work, play, rest and sleep. The basic consensus that we believe exists among scholars about the importance of occupational balance for health and well-being makes it an urgent task to discuss and to develop as a central concept in our body of knowledge. The aim of this forum is to start a scientific dialogue about the concept of occupational balance. The presenters will start with a review of how the concept has been presented and elaborated in the literature. A recently developed experience-based model of occupational balance will be presented as a part of the dialogue. This model is constructed from experience sampling method (ESM) studies with 159 participants in three countries (submitted). The model emerges from Flow theory’s eight-channel model of analysis and condenses this into three dimensions, which in a mutual dynamic relationship, form an individually balanced or unbalanced daily repertoire of occupational experiences. After the introduction the presenters will propose a limited number of discussion questions for an ongoing dialogue. The participants will gather in groups to discuss occupational balance using examples as well as considering new conceptual possibilities. The groups will make short reports that will be followed by a general discussion in plenum