Walking as a meaningful leisure occupation: the implications for occupational therapy

Authors

R Wensley
A Slade

Abstract

Introduction: 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. Method: Six healthy student participants, identified as regular walkers, were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Data were analysed following interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology. Findings: 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. Conclusion: 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.

DOI

10.4276/030802212X13286281651117

Publication Date

2012-01-01

Publication Title

The British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Volume

75

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Embargo Period

2024-11-19

First Page

85

Last Page

92

Recommended Citation

Wensley, R., & Slade, A. (2012) 'Walking as a meaningful leisure occupation: the implications for occupational therapy', The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75, pp. 85-92. SAGE Publications: Available at: 10.4276/030802212X13286281651117