Understanding disruptions to children’s patterns of occupation and forms of occupational engagement during COVID-19 in Greece: An exploratory study

ABSTRACT Background Occupational engagement and participation is considered essential for children’s health, development, and social connectedness. Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing government ordered restrictions in Greece, school aged children’s patterns of occupational engagement were altered. Purpose The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which restrictions disrupted school aged children’s occupational patterns and the ways in which they engaged in chosen occupations in Greece during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020. Design/methodology Two hundred and seventy-five children aged 6- to 12-years old completed the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) online. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify how the patterns of occupation and forms of occupational engagement changed during the COVID-19 related restrictions and whether age or gender could be correlated to any altered patterns identified. Findings Children became more involved in home-based informal occupations—particularly recreational occupations—and the forms of their occupational engagement altered. Gender apparently influenced the types of occupations in which the children participated and there was an increase in the amount of time spent with family members in co-occupations. Conclusion The study described in this article was unique in that it was conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 in Greece. Its findings highlight the impacts of restrictions on children’s patterns of occupation and forms of occupational engagement within a global pandemic context.