Research-Occupational Therapy Program
Elizabeth Larson, Ph.D., OTR
Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Southern California
blarson@education.wisc.edu
My research investigates caregivers’ and students’ participation in daily activity as related to levels of well-being. Using mixed-method designs that combine survey and qualitative interviews, current projects examined: the dimensionality of well-being of caregivers of children with disabilities (life satisfaction versus thriving); varying spiritual beliefs about time-use in caregiving associated with higher and lower levels of well-being; the construction of daily routines to manage participation of a children with autism; characteristics of stressful caregiving episodes; and caregiver’s opportunities for restorative activities to bolster well-being such as daily leisure. In addition a second research strand investigates perceived temporality and stress experienced by college students in daily activities related to their experience of challenge, skill, and interest in the activity. Current research is focusing on changes in caregiver’s well-being over time as they adapt and develop caregiving strategies. This project combines biological and qualitative measures assessing well-being using biomarkers, surveys and participant’s descriptions of their daily lives.
Grants awarded:
UW System Assistance for ARRA Grant, July-October 2009, $11,076.75. "Sensory Sensitivity & Stress in Everyday Life for Children with High Functioning Autism. E.A. Larson, P.I.
Vilas Life Cycle Professorship Award ($22,055) from the Women in Science and Engineering Leadershop Institute for May 2007-June 2008. This will provide personnel support to investigate biological markers for premature aging of stressed caregivers of children with disabilities and the Virginia Horne Henry Award ($20,360) to cover the costs of biomarker assays for this project.
Fall 2006 DOIT Podcasting Grant to enhance a previously developed series of audio-casts with visual and video features. The podcasting series facilitates students' Spanish-language skills for conducting a developmental and occupational history interview. The current upgrade will pair pictures with the audio track and pair video-audio interactions that simulate converstations to promote language mastery.
Representative Publications
Larson, E. A. (in press). Psychological well-being and meaning-making in caregivers for children with disabilities: Deciding to "grow through difficult times or sink inward". Occupation, Participation & Health: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.
Larson, E.A. & von Eye, A. (revision requested). Beyond flow: Temporality and participation in everyday activities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Larson, E.A. (in press). What constitutes well-being in challenging life circumstances: Identifying relevant well-being indicators for caregivers of children with disabilities. Occupational Therapy International.
Larson, E.A. (in press). Ever vigilant: Maternal support of participation in daily life for children with disabilities. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics.
Larson, E.A. (2006). Stress in the lives of college women: Lots to do and not much time. Journal of Adolescent Research, 21(6), 579-606.
Larson, E.A. & von Eye, A. (2006). Predicting the flow of time from qualities of daily activity. Ecological Psychology,18(2), 113-130.
Larson, E.A. (2006). Caregiving for a child with autism: Does their propensity for routines help or hinder participation in daily family activities? Occupation, Participation & Health: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 26, 1-11.
Larson, E.A., Wood, W. & Clark, F. (2003). Occupational Science: Building the science and practice of occupation through an academic discipline. In E. Crepeau (Ed.), Willard and Spackman's Occupational Therapy (10th ed.). Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott.
Larson, E.A. (1998). Reframing the meaning of disability to families: The embrace of paradox. Social Science and Medicine, 47, 865-875.