Cowen Kate, Collins Tracy, Carr Susan, Wilson Menzfeld Gemma
Durham University, Durham, UK.
Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK.
Br J Occup Ther. 2024 Jul;87(7):434-442. doi: 10.1177/03080226241239564. Epub 2024 Mar 27.
Social participation activities, an important area of occupation, have been effective in reducing social isolation and loneliness. However, most attendees are women, warranting the need to explore older men's social participation needs.
Qualitative methods, including interviews and a collaborative workshop, were used to explore the research aim. Public involvement included establishing partnerships with six staff from four community organisations and twelve older men. The project was informed by a steering committee. The steering group offered insight into all aspects of the research except analysis, which was performed thematically.
Intergenerational engagements and the appropriate environment to establish connections with their communities were highlighted as beneficial to men. However, there is a lack of appropriate local spaces to connect communities through social participation. This suggests the need for occupational therapists to diversify their roles, moving beyond the individual and into community development.
Occupational therapists' unique and varied skill set, including the understanding of the profound impact of the environment on occupational engagement and, thus, well-being would offer valuable contributions to community development roles, including the built environment to ensure all communities have places for connection where individuals of all ages can thrive.
社会参与活动作为职业的一个重要领域，在减少社会孤立和孤独方面很有成效。然而，大多数参与者是女性，因此有必要探索老年男性的社会参与需求。
采用包括访谈和协作研讨会在内的定性方法来探索研究目标。公众参与包括与四个社区组织的六名工作人员和十二名老年男性建立伙伴关系。该项目由一个指导委员会提供指导。指导小组对研究的各个方面提供了见解，但分析除外，分析是按主题进行的。
代际互动以及与社区建立联系的适宜环境对男性有益。然而，缺乏通过社会参与来连接社区的合适当地场所。这表明职业治疗师需要使自己的角色多样化，从关注个体转向社区发展。
职业治疗师独特且多样的技能组合，包括对环境对职业参与进而对幸福感的深远影响的理解，将为社区发展角色做出宝贵贡献，包括营造建筑环境以确保所有社区都有供人们建立联系的场所，各个年龄段的人都能在其中蓬勃发展。
