Occupational Adaptation

Question 1

history

Answer 1

Developed by professors at Texas Women’s University

Referred to as a frame of reference and a theoretical model
Intended to guide intervention
Complex model

Question 2

Philosophical Assumptions

Answer 2

Occupation is universal

Competence in occupation is a life-long process of adaptation to internal and external demands to perform.

Demands to perform occur naturally as part of the person’s occupational roles and the context in which they occur.

Dysfunction occurs because the person’s ability to adapt has been challenged to the point that the demands for performance are not satisfactorily met.

At any stage of life, the person’s adaptive capacity can be overwhelmed by impairment, physical or emotional disability, and stressful life events

The greater the level of dysfunction, the greater the demand for changes in the person’s adaptive processes.

Success in occupational performance is a direct result of the person’s ability to adapt with sufficient mastery to satisfy the self and others.

Question 3

Occupations

constructs

Answer 3

Occupations: composed of 3 properties:

Actively involve the person
Meaningful to that person
Involve a process with a product (tangible or intangible)

Question 4

Adaptive Capacity

constructs

Answer 4

Adaptive Capacity: capability of person to perceive the need for change, modification, & refinement
Respond with positive relative mastery

Question 5

Relative Mastery

constructs

Answer 5

Relative Mastery: how a person evaluates the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of occupational response

Question 6

Occupational Adaptation Process

constructs

Answer 6

Occupational Adaptation Process: series of actions and events that unfold with occupational challenges

Question 7

Constants of the Model

Answer 7

see pic on slides

Question 8

Occupational Adaptation Process

Answer 8

Starts with perception of occupational challenge

Person brings expectations and capabilities

Environment presents certain characteristics

Person displays an occupational performance

Question 9

The occupational adaptation process

Answer 9

The occupational adaptation process describes the interaction of the person, the environment, and the internal adaptive processes that occur when individuals engage in their daily occupations

Question 10

The OA model

Answer 10

The model is presented in a linear format.

The model of the OA process is based on three overarching elements: the person, the occupational environment, and their interaction

Question 11

Person

Answer 11

Person: Internal Factors of the OA Process

The left side of the model is devoted to the internal factors: those that occur within the person.
The desire for mastery is a constant factor in the OA process.
The person is made up of the individual’s unique sensorimotor, cognitive, and psychosocial systems.

Question 12

Occupational Environment

Answer 12

Occupational Environment: External Factors of the OA Process

The right side of the model is devoted to external factors that affect the person.
The external process also begins with the demand for mastery.
The second external factor is the occupational environment.

Question 13

Interaction of Internal and External Factors: OA Process

Answer 13

Interaction of Internal and External Factors: OA Process
The internal and external factors continuously interact with each other through the modality of occupation.

The ongoing interaction of the person’s desire for mastery and the occupational environment’s demand for mastery creates a third constant: the press for mastery.

The press for mastery yields the occupational challenge.

The occupational role expectations of the person and of the occupational environment intersect in response to the unique occupational challenge that the individual experiences.

The occupational response is the outcome—the observable by-product of the adaptive response.

The occupational adaptation process begins at the top of both the left and right sides of the model at the same time.

Question 14

Focus on the Person

Answer 14

Person has an adaptive capacity that is comprised of adaptive response sub-processes

1. Adaptive Response Generation
           Adaptation energy
           Adaptive response modes
           Adaptive Response Behaviors
            Adaptation Gestalt
2. Adaptive Response Evaluation
3. Adaptive Response Integration

Question 15

Adaptive Response Generation

Answer 15

Adaptive Response Generation – Response Mechanism

Energy!!
Primary energy
           Focused attention
           High energy at intense activity
            More structured
Secondary
            Creative, sophisticated
              Lower energy use
             Low structure, alternative approaches  

Modes
      Existing 
      Modified
       New
Behaviors
        Primitive: hyper-stable
        Transitional: hyper-mobile
         Mature: blended mobility and stability, goal directed

Question 16

Adaptive Response Evaluation

Answer 16

Efficiency
Effectiveness
Satisfaction

Experience of relative mastery (positive or negative?)
Assessment of occupational event

Question 17

Adaptive Response Integration

Answer 17

Response can be useful only if:
Person remembers it
If there was an alteration or change
If the adaptive capacity is increased

Question 18

Assessment and incorporation by occupational environment

Answer 18

Compares occupational response to the performance expectations of that environment

Feedback

Question 19

Interruption in the OA Process

Answer 19

When the normative OA process is seriously disrupted, the person’s adaptive responses are often inadequate.

Impairments in person systems place significant limits on the individual’s ability to effectively use former or existing adaptive responses.

Cognitive issues often further limit the ability to adapt

Question 20

Introduction to Practice Based on the Theory of Occupational Adaptation

Answer 20

OA directs practice to be focused on the therapeutic use of occupation to promote clients’ adaptation.

The primary intervention goal is to maximize the client’s effectiveness in using his or her own ability to be adaptive.

The OA Clinical and Professional Reasoning Process provides a systematic progression of questions that practitioners uses to frame overall thinking.

Question 21

Implications for Intervention

Answer 21

Adaptiveness leads to better occupational performance
Help client to adapt better
Address internal adaptive capacity
Client is active in planning intervention and evaluating outcomes

Question 22

occupational adaptation is what type of process

Answer 22

normative process