Walking as a meaningful leisure occupation: the implications for occupational therapy
Date
2012Author
Subject
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
<I>Introduction:</I> In response to growing interest in leisure in occupational therapy and the importance of understanding how occupations maintain, enhance and promote health and wellbeing, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of walking for leisure.<P/> <I>Method:</I> Six healthy student participants, identified as regular walkers, were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Data were analysed following interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology.<P/> <I>Findings:</I> Participants expressed how and why walking was meaningful to them; the four main themes were social connectedness, wellbeing, connection to nature and achievement from a challenge. Findings suggest that occupational therapists could use walking and leisure occupations in intervention, and that there is scope for an occupational therapy perspective in health promotion.<P/> <I>Conclusion:</I> Determining the subjective meaning of engaging in walking as a leisure occupation has implications for occupational science and health promotion in helping to explain why people do what they do.
Collections
Publisher
Journal
Volume
Issue
Pagination
Number
Recommended, similar items
The following license files are associated with this item: