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Use of time in childhood and adolescence: A literature review on the nature of activity participation and depression
Author(s) -
Desha Laura N.,
Ziviani Jenny M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
australian occupational therapy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.595
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1630
pISSN - 0045-0766
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1630.2006.00649.x
Subject(s) - relevance (law) , occupational therapy , intervention (counseling) , depression (economics) , psychology , mental health , leisure time , psychotherapist , clinical psychology , psychiatry , physical activity , medicine , political science , law , economics , macroeconomics , physical medicine and rehabilitation
Despite a philosophical belief in the health benefits of balanced participation in everyday activities, occupational therapists have devoted scant research attention to the relationship between mental health and activity participation in childhood and adolescence. Time use studies offer valuable insights into this relationship. In this literature review the methodologies employed in time use studies are described, and empirical findings linking depression to the distribution of time to leisure, productive and self‐care activities, and sleep are then outlined. The relevance of findings to occupational therapy assessment and intervention is discussed. Therapists are challenged to further research the area, as gaining thorough knowledge of young people's time use has implications for both professional practice and broader public health policy.