Upplevelser av aktivitetsbalans i det dagliga livet hos gymnasieelever i södra Sverige

Sammanfattning: Background: High school students is a large target group in Sweden, where many do not graduate, with school fatigue being the most common reason. Occupational balance is important to sustain health and well-being. Currently there is a lack of studies about high school students’ perceived occupational balance. Aim: The aim of this study was to examine high school students’ experiences of occupational balance in daily living in South Sweden. Method: Qualitative interview study with a sample of eight participants. Semistructured interviews were carried out with the help of an interview guide. Data was analyzed using a latent content analysis. Results: Participants experiences were summerized by four themes: Need of recovery, need of planning, prioritizing occupations and strategies for wellbeing. Participants shared a perception that school takes over the day and felt a lack of variation in their patterns of daily occupations caused by lack of recovery and meaning. There was a common experience that participants occasionally forgot themselves. Meaning and routines were perceived as essential for occupational balance. Conclusion: The results suggest that the target group experiences occupational imbalance, which is a contributing factor to mental and physical illness. The study shows a need of more research regarding this topic.