Adjustment Disorder, Life Transitions, and Occupational Disruption: Implications for Preventive Occupational Therapy Practice

Abstract

Background: Adjustment disorder is a prevalent yet frequently underrecognized mental health condition defined as a maladaptive response to an identifiable stressor accompanied by clinically significant distress and functional impairment in social, occupational, or other important domains. Historically regarded as a residual or transient diagnosis, adjustment disorder has often been marginalized in both research and clinical practice. However, emerging evidence suggests that adjustment disorder is associated with sustained functional impairment, disrupted occupational participation, and prolonged difficulties in role performance, particularly during periods of major life transition.

Methodology: This paper used a mixed methods approach presenting a narrative evidence synthesis of contemporary interdisciplinary literature through an occupational and wellness lens, supplemented by survey data from adults experiencing recent life transitions to explore perceived impacts on routines, roles, occupational engagement, and awareness of occupational therapy as a potential support.

Findings: Findings indicate that adjustment disorder reflects a dynamic and reciprocal process in which occupational disruption and psychological symptoms mutually reinforce one another over time, rather than representing short-lived distress alone. Survey results similarly highlight the extent to which life transitions are experienced as occupationally disruptive, with respondents reporting sustained challenges in maintaining routines, balancing roles, and supporting wellbeing. Despite these challenges, awareness and utilization of occupational therapy were limited, although respondents identified occupation focused support as potentially valuable.

Conclusion: By conceptualizing occupational performance and psychological symptoms as mutually reinforcing, this paper positions occupation-centered intervention not only as functional support but as a therapeutic mechanism capable of directly mitigating adjustment-related distress.