A scoping review of time-use research in occupational therapy and occupational science

Time use is a defining interest within occupational therapy and occupational science. This is evident through the range of contributions to the disciplinary knowledge base. Indeed it has been suggested that time-use methods are amongst the most established research techniques used to explore aspects of human occupation. However, the extent and nature of such activity in occupational therapy and occupational science has not been examined to date.

This study sought to map the extent and nature of time-use research in occupational therapy and occupational science journals and the extent to which studies explored the relationship between time-use and health.

A scoping review method was used.

Sixty-one studies were included. Scandinavian countries contributed the largest number of studies (n = 16, 26%). While time-use diaries were used most frequently (n = 30, 49%) occupational therapists and occupational scientists have developed a range of data-collection instruments. Forty-nine studies (80%) focused on time-use in clinical or defined population sub-groups. Ten studies (16%) included an empirical examination of the relationship between time-use and health.

Future research should examine time-use and health amongst well populations across the lifespan and in different parts of the world.