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Patterns of daily occupations (PDO) and occupational balance (OB) are recurring phenomena in the literature. Both are related with health and well-being, which makes them central in occupational therapy practice and occupational science. The aim was to review how PDO and OB are described in the literature, to propose a view of how the two constructs may be linked, and elaborate on how such a view may benefit occupational science and occupational therapy. The literature was analysed by latent and manifest content analysis and comparative analysis. The findings were summarized in a model, framing PDO as the more objective and OB as the more subjective result from an interaction between personal preferences and environmental influences. The proposed model does not assume a cause–effect relationship between the targeted constructs, rather a mutual influence and a joint reaction to influencing factors. Indicators of PDO and OB were identified, as well as tools for assessing PDO and OB. The authors propose that discerning PDO and OB as separate but interacting phenomena may be useful in developing a theoretical discourse in occupational science and enhancing occupational therapy practice. Although the scope of this study was limited, the proposed view may hopefully inspire further scrutiny of constructs.

Previous research suggests that having schizophrenia involves not being fully equipped to engage in daily occupations. This study was aimed at exploring relationships between occupational engagement and the issues of self-related variables, psychiatric symptoms, and quality of life. Seventy-four outpatients with schizophrenia entered the study. Instruments used in this study were Profile of Occupational Engagement in People with Schizophrenia, Locus of Control, Mastery, Sense of Coherence, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, and Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. The results showed that a high level of occupational engagement was related to higher ratings of self-related variables, fewer psychiatric symptoms, and better ratings of quality of life, and vice versa. A significant difference and a linear trend were found among the three subgroups of different levels of occupational engagement and the estimated variables. In the regression model, negative symptoms and internal locus of control together explained 47% of the variance in occupational engagement. The results add a new dimension to understanding mental health and suggest the importance of assessing the level of occupational engagement.

Schizophrenia is a complex disorder with a heavy impact on daily life. Since the human occupational pattern is a product of person-occupation-environment interaction, it is of importance to explore all these factors to understand the daily occupational pattern among persons with schizophrenia. This study aimed to describe the time use of 10 persons with schizophrenia, reflecting the participants' daily occupations, social and geographical environments, and emotional reaction and reflection on their occupational performance. The results showed stagnation in the participants' occupational pattern and time use. Most activities were not triggered by a facilitating environment but from within the person by basic, immediate life needs, or wanting to escape reality. Occupational therapists could assist this group in reshaping the environment and regaining roles that involve interacting with the outside world.