Occupation and meaning in the lives of women with chronic pain

The aim of this study was to examine how women experience occupations as they live with chronic pain and more specifically to gain detailed knowledge regarding the meaning of important occupations in their life. The article is based on an analysis of 17 narratives based on an Occupational Performance History Interview. Participants were interviewed as part of their occupational therapy assessment at Orton Rehabilitation. The narratives were analysed in order to identify the experiences of doing occupations in everyday life. When interpreting their problems in and solution for doing occupations women in this study used four basic metaphors: (1) moving forward, (2) slowing down, (3) fighting and (4) standing still. The tone of the narratives varied from hopeful to hopeless and from fearful to frustrated. Each of these four types of narratives differed in: (a) the tone of the narrative, (b) the meaning ascribed to occupation, (c) how others are viewed in relation to one's doing, and (d) how the future is envisioned. The experience of occupation in the lives of women with chronic pain is heterogeneous and depends on the underlying meaning of the narrative used to experience and interpret occupational life.