Occupational balance in parents of pre-school children : Potential differences between mothers and fathers
Uthede, Sara ; Nilsson, Ida ; Wagman, Petra ; Håkansson, Carita LU
and Farias, Lisette
(2023)
In Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
30(8).
p.1199-1208
- Abstract
Background: Parents of young children are a vulnerable group with an increased risk of stress-related health problems compared to adults without children. Low occupational balance has been identified as a risk factor for stress-related disorders. Aim: The study aimed to describe occupational balance in parents of pre-school children and to explore potential differences between mothers and fathers. Method: Data were collected by a web-based survey based on the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11). A total of 302 working parents (200 mothers and 102 fathers) with at least one child under seven years of age were included in the study. Findings: Mothers reported lower occupational balance than fathers with a median value of 10 for... (More)
Background: Parents of young children are a vulnerable group with an increased risk of stress-related health problems compared to adults without children. Low occupational balance has been identified as a risk factor for stress-related disorders. Aim: The study aimed to describe occupational balance in parents of pre-school children and to explore potential differences between mothers and fathers. Method: Data were collected by a web-based survey based on the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11). A total of 302 working parents (200 mothers and 102 fathers) with at least one child under seven years of age were included in the study. Findings: Mothers reported lower occupational balance than fathers with a median value of 10 for mothers and 12 for fathers (p = 0.029). Mothers rated significantly lower than fathers in three items; ‘Balance between work, home, family, leisure, rest and sleep’, ‘Having sufficient time for doing obligatory occupations’ and ‘Balance between doing things for others and for oneself’. Conclusion: The results indicate that caring for pre-school children may negatively impact both parents, impacting mothers’ occupational balance to a greater degree. Significance: Occupational therapists’ knowledge could be utilised to increase awareness of the importance of occupational balance within health services and improve mothers’ occupational balance.
(Less)
- author
- Uthede, Sara
; Nilsson, Ida
; Wagman, Petra
; Håkansson, Carita
LU
and Farias, Lisette
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Cross-sectional study, occupational balance questionnaire (OBQ11), working parents in Sweden
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
- volume
- 30
- issue
- 8
- pages
- 1199 - 1208
- publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35254198
- scopus:85126222423
- ISSN
- 1103-8128
- DOI
- 10.1080/11038128.2022.2046154
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6c243f3a-3a11-41ae-b298-4b0082317490
- date added to LUP
- 2022-05-20 16:18:14
- date last changed
- 2024-07-26 17:50:36
@article{6c243f3a-3a11-41ae-b298-4b0082317490,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Parents of young children are a vulnerable group with an increased risk of stress-related health problems compared to adults without children. Low occupational balance has been identified as a risk factor for stress-related disorders. Aim: The study aimed to describe occupational balance in parents of pre-school children and to explore potential differences between mothers and fathers. Method: Data were collected by a web-based survey based on the Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11). A total of 302 working parents (200 mothers and 102 fathers) with at least one child under seven years of age were included in the study. Findings: Mothers reported lower occupational balance than fathers with a median value of 10 for mothers and 12 for fathers (p = 0.029). Mothers rated significantly lower than fathers in three items; ‘Balance between work, home, family, leisure, rest and sleep’, ‘Having sufficient time for doing obligatory occupations’ and ‘Balance between doing things for others and for oneself’. Conclusion: The results indicate that caring for pre-school children may negatively impact both parents, impacting mothers’ occupational balance to a greater degree. Significance: Occupational therapists’ knowledge could be utilised to increase awareness of the importance of occupational balance within health services and improve mothers’ occupational balance.</p>}},
author = {{Uthede, Sara and Nilsson, Ida and Wagman, Petra and Håkansson, Carita and Farias, Lisette}},
issn = {{1103-8128}},
keywords = {{Cross-sectional study; occupational balance questionnaire (OBQ11); working parents in Sweden}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{8}},
pages = {{1199--1208}},
publisher = {{Taylor & Francis}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
title = {{Occupational balance in parents of pre-school children : Potential differences between mothers and fathers}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2022.2046154}},
doi = {{10.1080/11038128.2022.2046154}},
volume = {{30}},
year = {{2023}},
}