A Subjectively-Based Definition of Life Balance using Personal Meaning in Occupation

Abstract

As definitions of life balance continue to proliferate within occupational science, ongoing testing of underlying assessment approaches are needed to inform the life balance construct. Within the present study a subjective definition of life balance was proposed that included the assessment of both meaningful activity and needs for meaningful activity. Using indicators of meaningful activity (Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey) and needs for meaningful activity (Meaningful Activity Wants and Needs Assessment), life balance was defined as a person reporting high levels of meaningful activity concurrently with low needs for additional meaningful activity experiences (Balance). Alternatively, people were defined as experiencing Imbalance when they concurrently reported low levels of meaningful activity and high needs for meaningful activity. In a sample of 250 university undergraduate and graduate students the present definition of life balance demonstrated theoretically predicted relationships with measures of well-being (i.e., life satisfaction, presence of meaning in life, and basic psychological needs fulfillment) and ill-being (i.e., depression and search for meaning in life). In all instances, persons identified as experiencing Balance reported significantly greater levels of well-being and lower levels of ill-being than those experiencing Imbalance. The present study, therefore, offers evidence demonstrating that perceived meaning in day-to-day activities offers a conceptually sound basis for further exploring the construct of life balance.

Keywords:

• Health promotion
• Meaning
• Need-based activity dimensions
• Well-being

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Patti Davies, Matt Malcolm, Arlene Schmid, and the JOS referees for providing helpful comments on earlier versions of the paper. Parts of this paper were first presented in May 2012 at the 9th Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.

Notes

1. “Through autonomy support” refers to the idea that autonomy may mediate the relationship between life balance and well-being. More specifically, that well-being would be enhanced in instances in which an individual's autonomy is supported – the idea of support can refer to a social environment that offers affordances to an individual's autonomy.