Difference between meaningful and psychologically rewarding occupations: Findings from two pilot studies

Abstract

Introduction: Meaningful occupations are hypothesized to be healing because they activate the dopaminergic neural pathways in the brain. We investigated whether: 1) self-selected meaningful occupations activated the dopaminergic neural pathways; and 2) there were differences in the categories of occupations that were perceived by study participants to be; a) meaningful, b) psychologically rewarding (likely to activate the dopaminergic or reward neural pathways), and/or c) both meaningful and psychologically rewarding. Method: In study number one, participants’ brains were scanned on fMRI while they watched themselves engaging in various types of occupations. In study number two we used the Experience sampling method and Repeated Measures designs. Findings: Self-selected meaningful occupations did not activate the reward neural pathways as hypothesized. Occupational category had an effect on mood and meaningfulness. Fun occupations elicited the most positive mood, especially when they were mentally stimulating and were performed with other people. Conclusion: Occupations that were both meaningful and psychologically rewarding were mentally stimulating and fostered connection with other people. Psychologically rewarding occupations tended to be perceived as fun, while physically stimulating occupations were perceived as meaningful. A larger study with a more representative sample will be conducted in an attempt to verify these findings.