Identity construction and participation in work: Learning from the experiences of persons with psychiatric disability

Abstract

Background In this article constructions of identity, occupation, and performance are explored with a particular focus on the interrelatedness of these concepts. Insights were derived from a study in which the influences that impact on the work-lives of people with a psychiatric disability were explored. Method An interpretive biography design was utilised. Data construction took the form of narrative interviews and a combination of paradigmatic narrative analysis and narrative analysis was used. Participants, selected by means of purposive maximum variation sampling, had been diagnosed with psychiatric impairment and lived in the Western Cape, South Africa. Findings and discussion Identity construction processes were explored, with a particular focus on how these impacted on decisions regarding participation in work. Conclusions Performance elements of identity, called forth by occupational demands, occurring within work environments were found to be shaped through, and expressed as, doing. The notion of Punctualized Identity was shown to provide a lens that is able to capture the dynamic interplay of identity constructs and provide a synthesised perspective on participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupational science
• punctualizing identity
• vocational rehabilitation.

Acknowledgements

The author offers sincere gratitude to all participants who shared personal narratives and engaged with the process, thus providing the foundation on which the ideas presented here are based. The author would like to thank Ruth Watson and Maggi Savin-Baden, who walked alongside her on this research journey.

Disclosure statement

The author reports no conflicts of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

1 Described as “the failure of the unifying function of the identity component” (italics in original).

2 By previous identity state I mean that the participant will experience continuity as per Baumeister’s definition.

3 Examples were visiting a therapist to increase medication, changing routines to get more rest, cutting down on foodstuffs that are considered unhealthy or avoiding situations they perceived to be particularly stressful.