News and Updates.
New Global Survey Published — Occupational Therapy & Parenting Roles
We’re delighted to announce the publication of the second paper from our international survey exploring how occupational therapists support adults in their parenting roles in Occupational Therapy Journal of Research. With responses from 1,357 OTs across 42 countries, the study shows that parenting is recognised as important but is still not routinely addressed in practice. Read the study here.
New paper - How do parents who live with chronic disease experience accessing formal parenting support ? A systematic review and meta – analysis of qualitative research
Members of the OT4Parenting research team have published a new paper in Disability and Rehabilitation ‘ How do parents who live with chronic disease experience accessing formal parenting support? A systematic review and meta – analysis of qualitative research’ . This paper analysed data from 18 original qualitative studies involving the experiences of 267 parents living with chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, cystic fibrosis and HIV. Three central themes emerged: (i) Absence of support – parents often described feeling invisible within healthcare systems (ii) What supports are needed – parents wanted practical, education and emotional support and (iii) Designing supports that work – parents called for supports that are flexible, tailored and grounded in need.
Moving forward the OT4Parenting team calls for:
Greater recognition of parenting as a meaningful occupation affected by chronic illness
Integrated and responsive support systems that meet parents where they are
Inclusion of peer led and professional supports that empower parents rather than pathologise them
Continued research and advocacy to ensure parenting support is seen as a core part of chronic disease management
Parenting with a chronic condition should not mean parenting without support. This research is a critical step toward systems that value, sustain, and empower parents in every context. Read the full article here.
Students commended for their top research at the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland conference
Growing the OT4parenting team!
Updated 5 November 2025
Updated 29 October 2025
Congratulations to past students Lillian Sheehan and Dearbhla Quirke who were awarded Highest Scoring Research Abstract at the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, National Conference held in Mullingar earlier this month. What a great achievement!
Pictured here are Lillian, Dearbhla along with their supervisors Professor Margaret McGrath and Dr Yvonne Codd as well as the award sponsor Accora.
Updated 29 October 2025
OT4Parenting is thrilled to welcome two outstanding final-year occupational therapy students to our team for 2025/26 – Ms Alicia O’Connor and Ms Katie Allen from University College Cork, Ireland.
Alicia and Katie will be contributing to our growing body of work on occupational therapy practice in the context of parenting. Under the supervision of Professor Margaret McGrath and Dr Anne Honey, they will be analysing Australian data from our global survey on occupational therapy practice with parents. This project will provide important insights into how occupational therapists in Australia are supporting parents and will contribute to our understanding of parenting as a global occupational therapy domain.
We are excited to support emerging leaders in our profession as they engage in meaningful, internationally relevant research that will shape the future of occupational therapy practice.
Updated 23 May 2025
Release of International Survey Results - Supporting parents with disability and other challenges through Occupational Therapy: What is needed?
Published in Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy.
Honey, A., Almomani, F., Chen, Y.-W. R., Codd, Y., Kim, J. A. J., Kunishige, M., Morrison, R., O’Mara, V., Peterson, J., Pituch, E., Rider, J. V., Romli, M. H., Rozen, D., Sabbah, R., Sarsak, H. I., Saunders, E., Sim, S. S., Tan, H. L., Wong, W. T., … McGrath, M. (2025). Supporting parents with disability and other challenges through occupational therapy: What is needed? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 72(3), e70026. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.70026
Updated 21 August 2024
New paper – Occupational Therapy for Parenting: Perspectives of parents with physical disability.
Published in Occupational Therapy International.
Honey, A., Peterson, J., O’Mara, V., & McGrath, M. (2024). Occupational therapy for parenting: Perspectives of parents with physical disability. Occupational Therapy International, 1-9.https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4854903
New paper – Every parent matters: The value of a parent-centric approach to supporting parenting occupations and roles
Our new paper in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy sets out a clear manifesto for increased occupational therapy engagement in matters of parenting. Check it out here