Which Occupations Did People Engage in during Lockdown? A European Cross-Sectional Descriptive Survey by Generation.
Cynthia Engels, Lauriane Segaux, Amandine Ibanez and 2 others
PMID 37646069WHAT IT FOUND
During lockdown, adults across Europe mostly increased leisure activities like reading and crafts, followed by household tasks.
Older adults preferred doing more of what they already knew, while younger adults tried new things. Satisfaction and performance scores rose for most people.
Key findings
01Leisure occupations accounted for 67% of activities performed more frequently during lockdown, followed by productive occupations (31%) and self-care (2%).
02Older adults were more likely to increase frequency of previously practiced occupations, whereas younger adults were more likely to engage in new occupations.
03Participants reported median increases in frequency of +2 points for both leisure and productive occupations on a 7-point scale.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was heavily skewed towards French residents (78%) and women (77%), limiting generalizability to the broader European population. Recruitment via social media likely excluded older adults and those with lower digital literacy, potentially underestimating age-related differences. The study used a survey format for the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), which is designed for interviews, leading to potential misclassification of occupations. Data relied on self-reported perceptions of change, which may not reflect objective time-use or actual participation levels. Only one author classified the qualitative occupation data, introducing potential bias despite using standard examples.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these patterns apply to all older adults or non-French populations. The sample was predominantly female, French, and digitally literate, meaning the results may not reflect the experiences of those with disabilities, lower socioeconomic status, or limited internet access.