Introduction/Rationale: Engagement in meaningful activities is fundamental to well-being, quality of life, and health. In occupational science, meaningful activities are a core concept, yet their underlying mechanisms remain ambiguous. Individuals with chronic conditions often experience disruptions in daily activities, offering unique insights into how meaning is constructed.
Objectives: This study aimed to develop an unambiguous, applicable theory on meaning construction in daily activities among individuals with chronic conditions. By deepening our understanding of this process, we contribute to occupational science and refine occupational therapy interventions that foster long-term engagement in meaningful activities.
Methods/Approach: Twenty-seven adults with chronic conditions in Belgium participated in qualitative interviews using video elicitation. Grounded theory methodology guided data analysis and interpretation.
Results/Practice Implications: Meaning in activities emerged as an iterative process shaped by three key components: 1) the person experiences the environment as a suitable, trusted, and safe lever to perform activities, 2) the person has the ability to develop and express personal skills and qualities, 3) the person perceives a symbiotic unity between the activity and the environment as a catalyst and challenge to undertake the meaningful activity.
For occupational therapists working with individuals with chronic conditions—who often need guidance in reshaping life goals—this framework provides a foundation for mapping meaningful activity engagement and supporting goal-oriented occupational therapy interventions.
Conclusion/Contribution to the occupational therapy profession: This study advances occupational science by clarifying how meaning is constructed in daily activities, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between person, activity, and environment. By integrating this framework into occupational therapy, practitioners can better support individuals with chronic conditions in achieving not just functional outcomes, but personally meaningful and fulfilling lives.