Occupation as marker of self: Occupation in relation to self among people with advanced cancer

Abstract

Background: Living with advanced cancer can have a profound impact on the person’s self. A person’s self is influenced by various aspects of daily life, including engagement in occupation. From an occupational perspective, little research has been done to explore how the self of people with advanced cancer is formed through their engagement in occupation.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore how people with advanced cancer experience that their sense of self is formed through engagement in occupation.

Methods: A total of 28 interviews were conducted with 22 people with advanced cancer. Grounded theory guided the collection and analysis of data.

Results: ‘Occupation as marker of self’ was identified as the core category. Occupations served as markers of the participants’ self (1) by mirroring their abilities and positioning of their self in the illness trajectory; and (2) as means of expressing their self. The core category provided explanations about how the participants’ experiences of occupation influenced their self-perceptions, as explained in the sub-categories ‘defining the self through occupation’ and ‘reassessing self and accepting limitations’.

Conclusions: For people with advanced cancer, engagement in occupation influences their self as current abilities become apparent and positions of their self can be created and expressed.

Keywords:

• Daily activities
• grounded theory
• identity
• life-threatening illness

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the participants, who gave us their valuable time and shared their stories with us. Without their contribution, the present study would not have been possible. Special thanks go to Professor Malcolm P. Cutchin from Wayne State University for his encouragement and input. Finally, we would like to thank our funding organizations: the Danish Cancer Society, University College Absalon, University of Southern Denmark, Sosu Nykoebing Falster, and the Danish Occupational Therapy Association.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Danish Cancer Society, University College Absalon, University of Southern Denmark, Sosu Nykoebing Falster, and the Danish Occupational Therapy Association.