Abstract

VAN NIEKERK, Lana. 25^th Vona du Toit Memorial Lecture: Synergies in the conceptualisation of resilience and participation following occupational disruption: Reflections informed by an integrative review. S. Afr. j. occup. ther. [online]. 2025, vol.55, n.2, pp.1-8. ISSN 2310-3833.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2025/vol25no2a2.

Prepared as a memorial lecture the article commences with a reflection by the author on the development of a personal construction of resilience that serves as a modified form of bracketing. Next, a snapshot-history of publications on resilience is provided, with the assumption that publications illustrate research activity in the field. The broad scope and meaning of the term 'resilience' is then be contextúa Used, with some attention to alignment with the scope of occupational therapy practice. Lastly, an integrative review - undertaken to explore the synergies between the concepts resilience and participation in occupation - is presented and compared to findings of a study that was undertaken to explore the participation of persons with psychiatric disability in work. Recognition of the synergies between participation in occupation and resilience has potential to enhance outcomes for occupational therapists and users of their services. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE • More explicit attention on resilience of occupational therapy service users is likely to improve achievement of occupational outcomes. • The likelihood of fostering occupational performance through explicit attention directed at enhancing the latent resilience of occupational therapy service users is demonstrated. • Elements identified to be evident in resilient responses can be harnessed to foster resilience.

Keywords : Vona du Toit Model of Creative Ability; occupational therapy intervention; function and participation; role performance; flexibility of adaptive responses; good health and wellbeing.

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