Social connectedness and engagement are particularly important among groups who are at risk of ex... more Social connectedness and engagement are particularly important among groups who are at risk of experiencing social isolation, such as immigrant older adults. The objective of our study was to understand the social relationships of aging Muslim Lebanese immigrants living in Canada by exploring their lives in their ethnic and wider communities. This study used a life course perspective and adopted a constructivist narrative inquiry to understand the diverse lived experiences of four older adults who immigrated to Canada during early adulthood. Participants engaged in a narrative interview and follow-up session in which they storied their lived experiences. Findings describe one core theme, cultivating social relationships through family, friends, and community interdependence, and three related sub-themes: (1) navigating and creating family interdependence and planting new roots; (2) family interdependence in later life: the important role of grandchildren; and (3) cultivating ethnic ...
Reasons were sought for low-vision service nonuse in a group of Canadian seniors with self-report... more Reasons were sought for low-vision service nonuse in a group of Canadian seniors with self-reported low vision. Audio-recorded semistructured inter-views were completed with 34 seniors with low vision: age range (70 to 94 years; mean: 82 years); 16 urban dwellers (12 women); 18 rural dwellers (14 women). Qualitative content analysis and template analytic techniques were applied to transcriptions. Informant nonuse of low-vision services involved: insufficient knowledge, managing for now, and practitioner behavior (inadequate rehabilitation education and management). Underlying seniors’ attitudes that shaped their self-presentation and service nonuse included a strong need for independence, a contextualization of vision loss relative to other losses, and an acceptance of vision loss in life. Service delivery strategies should consider not only knowledge access and healthcare practitioner behavior but also senior self-presentation strategies (e.g., viewing aids as counterproductive to ...
An occupational justice perspective of people’s experiences while on Methadone Maintenance Treatm... more An occupational justice perspective of people’s experiences while on Methadone Maintenance Treatment Purpose A study was undertaken with people on Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in London, Ontario. Given that MMT is time intensive, the objectives were to better understand the experiences and daily routines of people on MMT through in-depth exploration of their everyday occupations and the ongoing challenges and barriers they face to accessing treatment. Methods We used a qualitative intrinsic case study methodology (Stake, 1995) informed by the framework for occupational justice (Stadnyk et al., 2010; Townsend, 2012). Participants: Three females and two males between the ages of 27 and 42 who had been on MMT for at least one year. Data collection: Two sessions were conducted with each participant. The first consisted of a semi-structured interview, the creation of an occupational map (Huot & Laliberte Rudman, 2015) and completion of a demographic questionnaire. The second entailed a follow-up interview. Data analysis: Data analysis entailed whole text analysis and line-by-line coding of the ten transcripts. The analysis of the visual data generated through mapping also informed the findings. Results Four themes highlighting key aspects of the participants\u27 experiences will be presented. First, findings outline a ‘descent into chaos’ as participants’ addictions began and worsened over time. Second, participants’ experiences of ‘MMT as a bridge’ to recovery from addiction are described. Third, a ‘new normal’ daily life that is characterized by liminality is shown to be linked to people’s experiences on MMT. Finally, participants’ hopes for ‘moving forward’ are outlined. These themes in the data suggest that participants do not follow a strictly linear route but generally shift from chaos to boredom with the ever present possibility of relapse. Implications for occupational science In relation to the framework for occupational justice, the findings illustrate how structural factors such as health and community supports, and income supports as well as contextual factors including income/wealth, employment status, homelessness, and family/friend support interact to create occupational outcomes contributed to the participants’ experiences of occupational imbalance and occupational marginalization. MMT is not strictly an \u27individual\u27 experience, rather it is shaped by broader factors, which leads people in treatment to experience particular occupational injustices. Thus, MMT practices and policies should consider the occupational implications to enhance clients’ experiences and further support their recovery. Discussion questions How might comparative research help further illuminate the challenges faced by MMT clients? (e.g. urban/rural) How could MMT policies and practices be adapted to reflect the occupational implications discussed and to enhance clients\u27 experiences? How might other occupational science concepts be used to conduct additional research with people on MMT
Background: Since the 2008 global recession, people unemployed for 26 weeks or longer have consti... more Background: Since the 2008 global recession, people unemployed for 26 weeks or longer have constituted a greater proportion of the unemployed population in the United States (USA) and Canada (CAN). Yet, little attention has been paid to how people’s everyday lives during long-term unemployment are structured by social policies. Neoliberal unemployment policies link participation in expected activities to the receipt of supports such as unemployment insurance. Although scholars have critiqued this activation policy approach, few studies have explored how neoliberal activity expectations relate to everyday participation and inclusion during long-term unemployment.
Intent: We will describe a partnership between three universities, two in Norway and one in Canad... more Intent: We will describe a partnership between three universities, two in Norway and one in Canada, in order to illustrate how the integration of occupational science and public health perspectives on diverse health determinants contributed to interdisciplinary graduate education through a collaborative international exchange. Two specific initiatives will be addressed: the development of integrated occupational science and public health curriculum materials, and the participation of students from each country in courses at the institutions overseas. Argument: The conditions of everyday life and the occupations these conditions enable are well recognized as key determinants of health and well-being within occupational science, occupational therapy and public health. Within occupational science in particular, there is growing recognition that full realization of the vision of health promotion through occupation requires expanding beyond individual-level approaches in order to address socio-political conditions that contribute to occupational inequities and injustices. It is also clear that public health initiatives need to take into account the circumstances in which people live and work, as well as occupational opportunities across various realms in order to enhance health equity. As such, educational initiatives that bring together occupational science, occupational therapy and public health provide a useful approach in addressing the complexity of factors that shape life circumstances and occupational possibilities as a means to promote health. Promoting interdisciplinary graduate education through international exchange also contributes a useful experiential learning approach. Importance to Occupational Science: A key outcome of this educational exchange has been its translation into interdisciplinary research conducted by graduate students that was co-supervised by public health and occupational scholars from both countries. International and interdisciplinary collaboration in education and research can expand the reach and potential impacts of occupation-based knowledge by informing health promotion work. Exposure to the various aspects of this partnership has contributed to new knowledge that can better prepare future researchers and practitioners for working in diverse settings, and may, as suggested by Zemke (2016), inspire students to link across disciplines to address social issues of relevance to occupation, health and well-being. Conclusion: In travelling abroad and working as part of internationally collaborative teams to study occupational science, occupational therapy, and public health, students and faculty participating in the interdisciplinary educational exchange program have had diverse opportunities to broaden their focus to ‘the social’ and expand their own disciplinary location. Discussion questions: How can international educational opportunities also contribute to students’ understanding of occupation as a culturally-informed and situated construct? How could similar partnerships with other relevant disciplines be forged and what novel contributions could be made by occupational scientists to interdisciplinary education and research? What challenges threaten the sustainability of such international institutional partnerships and what strategies can be used to ensure their continued success? Key words: education, international exchange, social determinants of healt
Background and Objectives: Emerging research regarding aging in neighborhoods emphasizes the impo... more Background and Objectives: Emerging research regarding aging in neighborhoods emphasizes the importance of this context for well-being; however, in-depth information about the nature of person-place relationships is lacking. The interwoven and complex nature of person and place points to methods that can examine these relationships in situ and explore meanings attached to places. Participatory geospatial methods can capture situated details about place that are not verbalized during interviews or otherwise discerned, and qualitative methods can explore interpretations, both helping to generate deep understandings of the relationships between person and place. This article describes a combined qualitative-geospatial approach for studying of older adults in neighborhoods and investigates the qualitative-geospatial approach developed, including its utility and feasibility in exploring person-place transactions in neighborhoods. Research Design and Methods: We developed and implemented a qualitative-geospatial approach to explore how neighborhood and person transact to shape sense of social connectedness in older adults. Methods included narrative interviews, go-along interviews, and global positioning system tracking with activity/travel diary completion followed by map-based interviews. We used a variety of data analysis methods with attention to fully utilizing diverse forms of data and integrating data during analysis. We reflected on and examined the utility and feasibility of the approach through a variety of methods. Results: Findings indicate the unique understandings that each method contributes, the strengths of the overall approach, and the feasibility of implementing the approach. Discussion and Implications: The developed approach has strong potential to generate knowledge about person-place transactions that can inform practice, planning, policy, and research to promote older adults' well-being.
A qualitative study was undertaken with five people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to b... more A qualitative study was undertaken with five people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to better understand their experiences and daily routines. Through an in-depth exploration of their everyday occupations, we sought to reveal the ongoing challenges and barriers they face to accessing treatment. The concept of occupation refers to 'all that people need, want and are required to do' but also extends further to encompass 'how doing contributes to processes of being, becoming and belonging' (Huot and Laliberte Rudman, 2015). This research employed a qualitative intrinsic case study methodology (Stake, 2005). Using an occupational perspective informed by a framework for occupational justice (Stadnyk et al., 2005), the participants' narratives are presented according to four themes highlighting key aspects of their experiences: (a) descent into chaos; (b) MMT as a bridge to recovery from addiction; (c) a new normal daily life; and (d) hopes for moving forward. The findings illustrate how structural factors and contextual factors interact to create occupational injustices. Thus, MMT practices and policies should consider the occupational implications described in this article to enhance patients' experiences and further support their recovery.
Purpose: Research exploring how places shape and interact with the lives of aging adults must be ... more Purpose: Research exploring how places shape and interact with the lives of aging adults must be grounded in the places where aging adults live and participate. Combined participatory geospatial and qualitative methods have the potential to illuminate the complex processes enacted between person and place to create much-needed knowledge in this area. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify methods that can be used to study person-place relationships among aging adults and their neighborhoods by determining the extent and nature of research with aging adults that combines qualitative methods with participatory geospatial methods. Design and Methods: A systematic search of nine databases identified 1,965 articles published from 1995 to late 2015. We extracted data and assessed whether the geospatial and qualitative methods were supported by a specified methodology, the methods of data analysis, and the extent of integration of geospatial and qualitative methods. Results: Fifteen studies were included and used the photovoice method, global positioning system tracking plus interview, or go-along interviews. Most included articles provided sufficient detail about data collection methods, yet limited detail about methodologies supporting the study designs and/or data analysis. Implications: Approaches that combine participatory geospatial and qualitative methods are beginning to emerge in the aging literature. By more explicitly grounding studies in a methodology, better integrating different types of data during analysis, and reflecting on methods as they are applied, these methods can be further developed and utilized to provide crucial place-based knowledge that can support aging adults' health, well-being, engagement, and participation.
Purpose: To compare the role of community spaces in the social and cultural integration of French... more Purpose: To compare the role of community spaces in the social and cultural integration of French-speaking immigrants and refugees in two Canadian cities located outside the Francophone province of Quebec. Francophone community spaces provide opportunities for people located in predominantly Anglophone cities to live, access services and socialize in French. In considering ways in which such community spaces could act as ‘places of encounter’ between newcomer and established populations, our primary objectives were to critically examine: 1) use of these spaces by French-speaking minority immigrants and refugees for their social and cultural participation; 2) their experiences of inclusion and exclusion within these spaces; and 3) how their experiences of engaging in daily occupations differed in relation to the unique geographic and socio-historic context of the two cities being compared. Methods: A total of 56 immigrants and refugees (27 women and 29 men) from a range of countries participated in eight focus groups (4 in each city) that were conducted as part of a larger instrumental case study methodology. Questions addressed their use of Francophone community spaces, their experiences of inclusion and exclusion, and aspects that facilitated their participation and engagement within the local community. Whole text analysis of focus group interviews transcribed verbatim was followed by line-by-line coding to identify key categories and themes. Results: Participants identified diverse challenges to their social and cultural participation within the respective Francophone minority communities examined. These challenges, and associated strategies recommended to enhance their engagement in varied occupations, will be addressed in relation to two dominant themes. The first relates to enhancing the visibility of French-speaking communities themselves, and hence of their spaces and associated opportunities for occupational participation. The second attends to the tension between the expansion of local official language minority communities and their fragmentation as related to the arrival of diverse migrant populations. The implications of the different host communities’ reception of newcomers upon their occupational possibilities will be discussed. Implications: Existing research on immigration to Canadian Francophone minority communities has primarily attended to governmental policies and discourses. Much less is known about the daily lives of French-speaking migrants in these communities and the role of regional context in shaping their experiences of occupation. Adopting an occupational perspective to deepen understanding of how identities are negotiated in Francophone community spaces can inform the development of promising practices to support the social participation of official language minority immigrants and refugees. Discussion questions: In what ways do community spaces enable participation for additional minoritized immigrant populations (e.g. faith-based communities)? How can host communities best provide spaces that enable the participation and active engagement of newcomers? What role do such ‘places of encounter’ play in building migrants’ local capital and networks with members of the host community? Key words: integration, international migration, participatio
Quelle est la nature changeante des espaces communautaires francophones a la lumiere des politiqu... more Quelle est la nature changeante des espaces communautaires francophones a la lumiere des politiques recentes mettant l’accent sur l’immigration francophone ? Nous repondons a cette question en nous basant sur les resultats d’une etude comparative des villes de London et d’Ottawa, en Ontario. Premierement, nous constatons que le maintien et la vitalite de ces espaces semblent etre a risque du fait de la situation de precarite qu’ils affrontent actuellement ; deuxiemement, nous soulignons le pluralisme croissant des espaces communautaires francophones dans ces deux villes ontariennes. De facon generale, nous traitons trois themes principaux : le role de ces espaces et les opportunites qu’ils peuvent offrir, des enjeux d’invisibilite communautaire et les defis lies au maintien de ces espaces.
It is well established in the occupation-based literature that people's engagement in meaningful ... more It is well established in the occupation-based literature that people's engagement in meaningful occupations is reciprocally connected both to their identities and to the environments within which such occupations occur. However, less is known about how access to or exclusion from certain environments may shape the performance of identities by enabling or constraining opportunities for occupational engagement. We examined the role of minority community spaces (e.g. schools, places of worship, community centres) for supporting participation in occupations among French-speaking immigrants and refugees in Canada who settled in two Anglophone dominant cities. Fifty six people from diverse countries participated in eight focus groups (four in each city) conducted as part of a larger, four stage comparative case study. An intersectional lens was adopted for the theoretical analysis of verbatim transcripts. We present findings according to three themes. First we discuss the implications for occupation of living in an Anglophone dominant context as an official linguistic minority. Second, we attend to the paradoxical role of the Francophone minority community in the integration experiences of French-speaking immigrants and refugees. Third we explore the role of minority community spaces for supporting their occupational engagement and performance of intersecting identities. We contend that community spaces can provide important opportunities for linguistic minority community members to engage in meaningful occupations, but these must attend to the heterogeneity of the populations they serve.
Topic: Critical reflexivity regarding the ‘conditions of possibility’ (Kantartzis & Molineux,... more Topic: Critical reflexivity regarding the ‘conditions of possibility’ (Kantartzis & Molineux, 2012) shaping knowledge construction in occupational science has raised concerns regarding several limits, including the predominance of an individualistic orientation, a reliance on Eurocentric and Anglophone conceptualizations of occupation, a neglect of issues of power and politics, and the incorporation of middle-class and feminized notions of ‘good’ occupations. In turn, several scholars have proposed the incorporation of critical perspectives into occupational science as a means to expand its scholarship, particularly in directions that attend to social injustices and enhance the emancipatory potential of scholarship (Farias & Laliberte Rudman, 2014). Purpose/aims: This panel will share examples of how research that is informed and shaped by different critical theoretical perspectives has the potential to enhance the social and political relevancy and efficacy of occupational science scholarship. Methods: Drawing upon their respective research, including work that examines how structural, discursive and other contextual factors create and perpetuate inequities for Indigenous families and children, disabled youth, persons experiencing long-term unemployment, and immigrants and refugees, each panel member will outline how the incorporation of critical theoretical frameworks and methodologies within their program of research pushes ‘conditions of possibility’ in occupational science scholarship. Intent: Participants will gain insights into how critical perspectives can be incorporated into occupational science scholarship, and will generate ideas for further incorporation in relation to diverse social issues of relevance to occupation. Importance to occupational science: Incorporating critical perspectives into occupational science can expand scholars’ capacities to engage in epistemic reflexivity, enhance understanding of social and occupational injustices, and enact transformative scholarship that imagines and works towards expanded occupational possibilities for diverse societal groups (Gerlach, 2015; Laliberte Rudman, 2014; Townsend, 2015). Objectives for discussion: Participants will be invited to share examples of social issues, settings, and population groups they aim to address through their scholarship and discuss if and how they have incorporated critical perspectives into their work. Through this dialogue, we aim to raise awareness of diverse possibilities for creating synergies between occupational science and critical perspectives, as well as contribute to the building of a community of critically-oriented scholars. Key words: Occupational justice, critical perspectives, critical methodologie
Stemming from a paper collaboratively written by the first cohort of graduate students in Canada‚... more Stemming from a paper collaboratively written by the first cohort of graduate students in Canada‚s first Occupational Science program, this presentation considers two aspects of the shared vision for occupational science we developed within the context of a doctoral course ˆ interdisciplinarity and internationalization. I entered this program with a Masters of Geography and an interest in international migration, making
References: Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. London: Cambridge University Pr... more References: Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. London: Cambridge University Press. Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Toronto: Doubleday. Howie, L. (2003). Ritualising in book clubs: Implications for evolving occupational identities. Journal of Occupational Science, 10(3), 130-139. Klinger, L. (2005). Occupational adaptation: Perspectives of people with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Occupational Science, 12(1), 9-16. Key Concepts & Interdisciplinary Insights Findings
Social connectedness and engagement are particularly important among groups who are at risk of ex... more Social connectedness and engagement are particularly important among groups who are at risk of experiencing social isolation, such as immigrant older adults. The objective of our study was to understand the social relationships of aging Muslim Lebanese immigrants living in Canada by exploring their lives in their ethnic and wider communities. This study used a life course perspective and adopted a constructivist narrative inquiry to understand the diverse lived experiences of four older adults who immigrated to Canada during early adulthood. Participants engaged in a narrative interview and follow-up session in which they storied their lived experiences. Findings describe one core theme, cultivating social relationships through family, friends, and community interdependence, and three related sub-themes: (1) navigating and creating family interdependence and planting new roots; (2) family interdependence in later life: the important role of grandchildren; and (3) cultivating ethnic ...
Reasons were sought for low-vision service nonuse in a group of Canadian seniors with self-report... more Reasons were sought for low-vision service nonuse in a group of Canadian seniors with self-reported low vision. Audio-recorded semistructured inter-views were completed with 34 seniors with low vision: age range (70 to 94 years; mean: 82 years); 16 urban dwellers (12 women); 18 rural dwellers (14 women). Qualitative content analysis and template analytic techniques were applied to transcriptions. Informant nonuse of low-vision services involved: insufficient knowledge, managing for now, and practitioner behavior (inadequate rehabilitation education and management). Underlying seniors’ attitudes that shaped their self-presentation and service nonuse included a strong need for independence, a contextualization of vision loss relative to other losses, and an acceptance of vision loss in life. Service delivery strategies should consider not only knowledge access and healthcare practitioner behavior but also senior self-presentation strategies (e.g., viewing aids as counterproductive to ...
An occupational justice perspective of people’s experiences while on Methadone Maintenance Treatm... more An occupational justice perspective of people’s experiences while on Methadone Maintenance Treatment Purpose A study was undertaken with people on Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) in London, Ontario. Given that MMT is time intensive, the objectives were to better understand the experiences and daily routines of people on MMT through in-depth exploration of their everyday occupations and the ongoing challenges and barriers they face to accessing treatment. Methods We used a qualitative intrinsic case study methodology (Stake, 1995) informed by the framework for occupational justice (Stadnyk et al., 2010; Townsend, 2012). Participants: Three females and two males between the ages of 27 and 42 who had been on MMT for at least one year. Data collection: Two sessions were conducted with each participant. The first consisted of a semi-structured interview, the creation of an occupational map (Huot & Laliberte Rudman, 2015) and completion of a demographic questionnaire. The second entailed a follow-up interview. Data analysis: Data analysis entailed whole text analysis and line-by-line coding of the ten transcripts. The analysis of the visual data generated through mapping also informed the findings. Results Four themes highlighting key aspects of the participants\u27 experiences will be presented. First, findings outline a ‘descent into chaos’ as participants’ addictions began and worsened over time. Second, participants’ experiences of ‘MMT as a bridge’ to recovery from addiction are described. Third, a ‘new normal’ daily life that is characterized by liminality is shown to be linked to people’s experiences on MMT. Finally, participants’ hopes for ‘moving forward’ are outlined. These themes in the data suggest that participants do not follow a strictly linear route but generally shift from chaos to boredom with the ever present possibility of relapse. Implications for occupational science In relation to the framework for occupational justice, the findings illustrate how structural factors such as health and community supports, and income supports as well as contextual factors including income/wealth, employment status, homelessness, and family/friend support interact to create occupational outcomes contributed to the participants’ experiences of occupational imbalance and occupational marginalization. MMT is not strictly an \u27individual\u27 experience, rather it is shaped by broader factors, which leads people in treatment to experience particular occupational injustices. Thus, MMT practices and policies should consider the occupational implications to enhance clients’ experiences and further support their recovery. Discussion questions How might comparative research help further illuminate the challenges faced by MMT clients? (e.g. urban/rural) How could MMT policies and practices be adapted to reflect the occupational implications discussed and to enhance clients\u27 experiences? How might other occupational science concepts be used to conduct additional research with people on MMT
Background: Since the 2008 global recession, people unemployed for 26 weeks or longer have consti... more Background: Since the 2008 global recession, people unemployed for 26 weeks or longer have constituted a greater proportion of the unemployed population in the United States (USA) and Canada (CAN). Yet, little attention has been paid to how people’s everyday lives during long-term unemployment are structured by social policies. Neoliberal unemployment policies link participation in expected activities to the receipt of supports such as unemployment insurance. Although scholars have critiqued this activation policy approach, few studies have explored how neoliberal activity expectations relate to everyday participation and inclusion during long-term unemployment.
Intent: We will describe a partnership between three universities, two in Norway and one in Canad... more Intent: We will describe a partnership between three universities, two in Norway and one in Canada, in order to illustrate how the integration of occupational science and public health perspectives on diverse health determinants contributed to interdisciplinary graduate education through a collaborative international exchange. Two specific initiatives will be addressed: the development of integrated occupational science and public health curriculum materials, and the participation of students from each country in courses at the institutions overseas. Argument: The conditions of everyday life and the occupations these conditions enable are well recognized as key determinants of health and well-being within occupational science, occupational therapy and public health. Within occupational science in particular, there is growing recognition that full realization of the vision of health promotion through occupation requires expanding beyond individual-level approaches in order to address socio-political conditions that contribute to occupational inequities and injustices. It is also clear that public health initiatives need to take into account the circumstances in which people live and work, as well as occupational opportunities across various realms in order to enhance health equity. As such, educational initiatives that bring together occupational science, occupational therapy and public health provide a useful approach in addressing the complexity of factors that shape life circumstances and occupational possibilities as a means to promote health. Promoting interdisciplinary graduate education through international exchange also contributes a useful experiential learning approach. Importance to Occupational Science: A key outcome of this educational exchange has been its translation into interdisciplinary research conducted by graduate students that was co-supervised by public health and occupational scholars from both countries. International and interdisciplinary collaboration in education and research can expand the reach and potential impacts of occupation-based knowledge by informing health promotion work. Exposure to the various aspects of this partnership has contributed to new knowledge that can better prepare future researchers and practitioners for working in diverse settings, and may, as suggested by Zemke (2016), inspire students to link across disciplines to address social issues of relevance to occupation, health and well-being. Conclusion: In travelling abroad and working as part of internationally collaborative teams to study occupational science, occupational therapy, and public health, students and faculty participating in the interdisciplinary educational exchange program have had diverse opportunities to broaden their focus to ‘the social’ and expand their own disciplinary location. Discussion questions: How can international educational opportunities also contribute to students’ understanding of occupation as a culturally-informed and situated construct? How could similar partnerships with other relevant disciplines be forged and what novel contributions could be made by occupational scientists to interdisciplinary education and research? What challenges threaten the sustainability of such international institutional partnerships and what strategies can be used to ensure their continued success? Key words: education, international exchange, social determinants of healt
Background and Objectives: Emerging research regarding aging in neighborhoods emphasizes the impo... more Background and Objectives: Emerging research regarding aging in neighborhoods emphasizes the importance of this context for well-being; however, in-depth information about the nature of person-place relationships is lacking. The interwoven and complex nature of person and place points to methods that can examine these relationships in situ and explore meanings attached to places. Participatory geospatial methods can capture situated details about place that are not verbalized during interviews or otherwise discerned, and qualitative methods can explore interpretations, both helping to generate deep understandings of the relationships between person and place. This article describes a combined qualitative-geospatial approach for studying of older adults in neighborhoods and investigates the qualitative-geospatial approach developed, including its utility and feasibility in exploring person-place transactions in neighborhoods. Research Design and Methods: We developed and implemented a qualitative-geospatial approach to explore how neighborhood and person transact to shape sense of social connectedness in older adults. Methods included narrative interviews, go-along interviews, and global positioning system tracking with activity/travel diary completion followed by map-based interviews. We used a variety of data analysis methods with attention to fully utilizing diverse forms of data and integrating data during analysis. We reflected on and examined the utility and feasibility of the approach through a variety of methods. Results: Findings indicate the unique understandings that each method contributes, the strengths of the overall approach, and the feasibility of implementing the approach. Discussion and Implications: The developed approach has strong potential to generate knowledge about person-place transactions that can inform practice, planning, policy, and research to promote older adults' well-being.
A qualitative study was undertaken with five people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to b... more A qualitative study was undertaken with five people on methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to better understand their experiences and daily routines. Through an in-depth exploration of their everyday occupations, we sought to reveal the ongoing challenges and barriers they face to accessing treatment. The concept of occupation refers to 'all that people need, want and are required to do' but also extends further to encompass 'how doing contributes to processes of being, becoming and belonging' (Huot and Laliberte Rudman, 2015). This research employed a qualitative intrinsic case study methodology (Stake, 2005). Using an occupational perspective informed by a framework for occupational justice (Stadnyk et al., 2005), the participants' narratives are presented according to four themes highlighting key aspects of their experiences: (a) descent into chaos; (b) MMT as a bridge to recovery from addiction; (c) a new normal daily life; and (d) hopes for moving forward. The findings illustrate how structural factors and contextual factors interact to create occupational injustices. Thus, MMT practices and policies should consider the occupational implications described in this article to enhance patients' experiences and further support their recovery.
Purpose: Research exploring how places shape and interact with the lives of aging adults must be ... more Purpose: Research exploring how places shape and interact with the lives of aging adults must be grounded in the places where aging adults live and participate. Combined participatory geospatial and qualitative methods have the potential to illuminate the complex processes enacted between person and place to create much-needed knowledge in this area. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify methods that can be used to study person-place relationships among aging adults and their neighborhoods by determining the extent and nature of research with aging adults that combines qualitative methods with participatory geospatial methods. Design and Methods: A systematic search of nine databases identified 1,965 articles published from 1995 to late 2015. We extracted data and assessed whether the geospatial and qualitative methods were supported by a specified methodology, the methods of data analysis, and the extent of integration of geospatial and qualitative methods. Results: Fifteen studies were included and used the photovoice method, global positioning system tracking plus interview, or go-along interviews. Most included articles provided sufficient detail about data collection methods, yet limited detail about methodologies supporting the study designs and/or data analysis. Implications: Approaches that combine participatory geospatial and qualitative methods are beginning to emerge in the aging literature. By more explicitly grounding studies in a methodology, better integrating different types of data during analysis, and reflecting on methods as they are applied, these methods can be further developed and utilized to provide crucial place-based knowledge that can support aging adults' health, well-being, engagement, and participation.
Purpose: To compare the role of community spaces in the social and cultural integration of French... more Purpose: To compare the role of community spaces in the social and cultural integration of French-speaking immigrants and refugees in two Canadian cities located outside the Francophone province of Quebec. Francophone community spaces provide opportunities for people located in predominantly Anglophone cities to live, access services and socialize in French. In considering ways in which such community spaces could act as ‘places of encounter’ between newcomer and established populations, our primary objectives were to critically examine: 1) use of these spaces by French-speaking minority immigrants and refugees for their social and cultural participation; 2) their experiences of inclusion and exclusion within these spaces; and 3) how their experiences of engaging in daily occupations differed in relation to the unique geographic and socio-historic context of the two cities being compared. Methods: A total of 56 immigrants and refugees (27 women and 29 men) from a range of countries participated in eight focus groups (4 in each city) that were conducted as part of a larger instrumental case study methodology. Questions addressed their use of Francophone community spaces, their experiences of inclusion and exclusion, and aspects that facilitated their participation and engagement within the local community. Whole text analysis of focus group interviews transcribed verbatim was followed by line-by-line coding to identify key categories and themes. Results: Participants identified diverse challenges to their social and cultural participation within the respective Francophone minority communities examined. These challenges, and associated strategies recommended to enhance their engagement in varied occupations, will be addressed in relation to two dominant themes. The first relates to enhancing the visibility of French-speaking communities themselves, and hence of their spaces and associated opportunities for occupational participation. The second attends to the tension between the expansion of local official language minority communities and their fragmentation as related to the arrival of diverse migrant populations. The implications of the different host communities’ reception of newcomers upon their occupational possibilities will be discussed. Implications: Existing research on immigration to Canadian Francophone minority communities has primarily attended to governmental policies and discourses. Much less is known about the daily lives of French-speaking migrants in these communities and the role of regional context in shaping their experiences of occupation. Adopting an occupational perspective to deepen understanding of how identities are negotiated in Francophone community spaces can inform the development of promising practices to support the social participation of official language minority immigrants and refugees. Discussion questions: In what ways do community spaces enable participation for additional minoritized immigrant populations (e.g. faith-based communities)? How can host communities best provide spaces that enable the participation and active engagement of newcomers? What role do such ‘places of encounter’ play in building migrants’ local capital and networks with members of the host community? Key words: integration, international migration, participatio
Quelle est la nature changeante des espaces communautaires francophones a la lumiere des politiqu... more Quelle est la nature changeante des espaces communautaires francophones a la lumiere des politiques recentes mettant l’accent sur l’immigration francophone ? Nous repondons a cette question en nous basant sur les resultats d’une etude comparative des villes de London et d’Ottawa, en Ontario. Premierement, nous constatons que le maintien et la vitalite de ces espaces semblent etre a risque du fait de la situation de precarite qu’ils affrontent actuellement ; deuxiemement, nous soulignons le pluralisme croissant des espaces communautaires francophones dans ces deux villes ontariennes. De facon generale, nous traitons trois themes principaux : le role de ces espaces et les opportunites qu’ils peuvent offrir, des enjeux d’invisibilite communautaire et les defis lies au maintien de ces espaces.
It is well established in the occupation-based literature that people's engagement in meaningful ... more It is well established in the occupation-based literature that people's engagement in meaningful occupations is reciprocally connected both to their identities and to the environments within which such occupations occur. However, less is known about how access to or exclusion from certain environments may shape the performance of identities by enabling or constraining opportunities for occupational engagement. We examined the role of minority community spaces (e.g. schools, places of worship, community centres) for supporting participation in occupations among French-speaking immigrants and refugees in Canada who settled in two Anglophone dominant cities. Fifty six people from diverse countries participated in eight focus groups (four in each city) conducted as part of a larger, four stage comparative case study. An intersectional lens was adopted for the theoretical analysis of verbatim transcripts. We present findings according to three themes. First we discuss the implications for occupation of living in an Anglophone dominant context as an official linguistic minority. Second, we attend to the paradoxical role of the Francophone minority community in the integration experiences of French-speaking immigrants and refugees. Third we explore the role of minority community spaces for supporting their occupational engagement and performance of intersecting identities. We contend that community spaces can provide important opportunities for linguistic minority community members to engage in meaningful occupations, but these must attend to the heterogeneity of the populations they serve.
Topic: Critical reflexivity regarding the ‘conditions of possibility’ (Kantartzis & Molineux,... more Topic: Critical reflexivity regarding the ‘conditions of possibility’ (Kantartzis & Molineux, 2012) shaping knowledge construction in occupational science has raised concerns regarding several limits, including the predominance of an individualistic orientation, a reliance on Eurocentric and Anglophone conceptualizations of occupation, a neglect of issues of power and politics, and the incorporation of middle-class and feminized notions of ‘good’ occupations. In turn, several scholars have proposed the incorporation of critical perspectives into occupational science as a means to expand its scholarship, particularly in directions that attend to social injustices and enhance the emancipatory potential of scholarship (Farias & Laliberte Rudman, 2014). Purpose/aims: This panel will share examples of how research that is informed and shaped by different critical theoretical perspectives has the potential to enhance the social and political relevancy and efficacy of occupational science scholarship. Methods: Drawing upon their respective research, including work that examines how structural, discursive and other contextual factors create and perpetuate inequities for Indigenous families and children, disabled youth, persons experiencing long-term unemployment, and immigrants and refugees, each panel member will outline how the incorporation of critical theoretical frameworks and methodologies within their program of research pushes ‘conditions of possibility’ in occupational science scholarship. Intent: Participants will gain insights into how critical perspectives can be incorporated into occupational science scholarship, and will generate ideas for further incorporation in relation to diverse social issues of relevance to occupation. Importance to occupational science: Incorporating critical perspectives into occupational science can expand scholars’ capacities to engage in epistemic reflexivity, enhance understanding of social and occupational injustices, and enact transformative scholarship that imagines and works towards expanded occupational possibilities for diverse societal groups (Gerlach, 2015; Laliberte Rudman, 2014; Townsend, 2015). Objectives for discussion: Participants will be invited to share examples of social issues, settings, and population groups they aim to address through their scholarship and discuss if and how they have incorporated critical perspectives into their work. Through this dialogue, we aim to raise awareness of diverse possibilities for creating synergies between occupational science and critical perspectives, as well as contribute to the building of a community of critically-oriented scholars. Key words: Occupational justice, critical perspectives, critical methodologie
Stemming from a paper collaboratively written by the first cohort of graduate students in Canada‚... more Stemming from a paper collaboratively written by the first cohort of graduate students in Canada‚s first Occupational Science program, this presentation considers two aspects of the shared vision for occupational science we developed within the context of a doctoral course ˆ interdisciplinarity and internationalization. I entered this program with a Masters of Geography and an interest in international migration, making
References: Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. London: Cambridge University Pr... more References: Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a theory of practice. London: Cambridge University Press. Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Toronto: Doubleday. Howie, L. (2003). Ritualising in book clubs: Implications for evolving occupational identities. Journal of Occupational Science, 10(3), 130-139. Klinger, L. (2005). Occupational adaptation: Perspectives of people with traumatic brain injury. Journal of Occupational Science, 12(1), 9-16. Key Concepts & Interdisciplinary Insights Findings
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Papers by Suzanne Huot