Early Steps in Developing a Descriptive Framework for Co-Occupation

Description

Abstract
Introduction:
The concept of co-occupation was originally proposed as a continuum of social occupations, ranging from parallel performed occupations to highly socially interrelated co-occupations such as nursing (Pierce, 2009; Zemke & Clark, 1996). Although all existing definitions recognize the interaction and interactivity in co-occupation, there is no consensus on the defining characteristics of co-occupations (Doidge, 2012; Pickens & Pizur-Barnekow, 2009; Pierce, 2009; Zemke & Clark, 1996). While co-occupation has been researched at a theoretical level, further empirical studies are necessary to establish a reliable and practically applicable definition of this concept (Bentzen et al., 2024; Doidge, 2012). Doidge (2012) synthesized the theoretical definitions and developed four promising categories of co-occupations as a potential descriptive framework that has yet to be validated.

Purpose:

To contribute to the development of a valid descriptive framework for co-occupation.

Approach:
Utilizing Doidge's four categories of co-occupations: Doing With, Doing To, Doing For, and Doing Because Of, in a deductive content analysis of qualitative interviews with elderly participants in social activity groups to test if the categories are applicable and can comprehend the co-occupations between elderly participants in a social activity group.

Implications for Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy:
By empirically testing the categories and determining if they are transferable to settings beyond mother-child relations, such as social activity group settings for the elderly, this study can contribute to both the comprehension of co-occupation in occupational science and the evidence-based application of the concept in practice by establishing a reliable descriptive framework.

Period	23 Aug 2025
Event title	Occupational Science Europe 2025 Conference
Event type	Conference
Location	Essex, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International