2019 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 304-313
Occupational participation is important for health and well-being, but epidemiological evidence for this theory has been inadequate. The present study aimed to clarify the influence occupational participation has on health-related QOL for one year. We conducted a one-year follow-up survey of 460 community-dwelling healthy middle-aged and elderly individuals in A Prefecture, Japan. Two groups were established:the maintenance and improvement group, and the deterioration group. Using the one-year survey on occupational participation, the differences between the two groups and the influence occupational participation had during one year on health-related QOL were examined and compared. Results have demonstrated that the maintenance and improvement group performed better on all scales of the SF-36v2 over one year (p<.05) compared to the other group. Moreover, results suggest that positive influences tend to develop early and are maintained thereafter, whereas negative influences tend to develop after 6 months. The results of this study can be used as epidemiological evidence for health promotion and preventive occupational therapy.
