Occupation and environmental sustainability: A scoping review
Lisa C. Lieb
Abstract
Climate change and environmental degradation are largely attributed to human occupations. However, concern for the integrity of the natural environment is often absent from occupationally focused health interventions. As occupational scientists are interested in the relationship between occupation, health, and well-being, the objective of this scoping review was to uncover what is written about environmental sustainability in the occupational science and occupational therapy literature in the English language. Articles were used as data. Using selected key terms, the Journal of Occupational Science, nine occupational therapy journals, and five databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles that answered the research question; were written in English; and had an occupational scientist or therapist as an author. No date ranges were applied to the search. After selecting pertinent articles, the reference lists and citations were searched. Findings were framed using the Evolving Theory of Occupational Justice. The findings suggest that engagement in sustainable occupations is influenced by structural and contextual factors and can contribute to occupationally just or unjust outcomes. The information generated suggests the need for further inquiry on environmental sustainability within occupational science and supports the integration of ecological sustainability concepts into occupational science theory.