Environmental Restrictors to Occupational Participation in Old Age: Exploring Differences across Gender in Puerto Rico

Elsa M. Orellano-Colón, Gail A. Mountain, Marlene Rosario, Zahira M. Colón, Sujeil Acevedo and Janiliz Tirado
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Elsa M. Orellano-Colón: School of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan 00936-5067, Puerto Rico, USA
Gail A. Mountain: Health Services Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Marlene Rosario: School of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan 00936-5067, Puerto Rico, USA
Zahira M. Colón: School of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan 00936-5067, Puerto Rico, USA
Sujeil Acevedo: School of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan 00936-5067, Puerto Rico, USA
Janiliz Tirado: School of Health Professions, Occupational Therapy Program, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 365067, San Juan 00936-5067, Puerto Rico, USA

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: Many older adults face challenges that prevent them from accomplishing common daily activities such as moving around, home maintenance, and leisure activities. There is still a need to examine and understand how environmental factors impact daily participation across gender. This study sought to make a qualitative comparison of gender differences regarding environmental barriers to participation in daily occupations from the perspectives of older adults who live alone in Puerto Rico. Twenty-six Hispanic older adults, 70 years or older participated in this study. We used a descriptive qualitative research design in which researchers administered an in-depth interview to each participant. The results elucidated that women were more likely than men to experience restricted participation due to lack of accessibility of the built environment and transportation systems. The findings could help with the development of tailored, occupation-based, preventive interventions that address gender specific environmental barriers and promote greater participation among both women and men. Further research is required to explore whether these environmental barriers to occupational participation remain consistent across living situations, socioeconomic status and ethnicity.

Keywords: engagement in occupation; participation; environment; older adults; gender differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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