The influence of the neoliberal system in the occupational elections and its impact on health and wellbeing, from a qualitative perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to show the process of investigation, analysis, results and discussion about the influence of the neoliberal system in the occupational elections and its impact on health and wellbeing from a qualitative perspective. This study was made with a non-representative sample of the active economic population of the city of Valdivia, Chile, with the methodology of narrative productions. The principal results obtained are the verification of a series of interrelated factors that influence the occupational elections, considering elements of the neoliberal system as one of the influential factors at the moment of choosing a productive activity, a university degree, hobbies and others, which at the same time hits the configuration of the occupational participation in the areas of occupational performance. Finally the concept of occupational elections must be questioned, if they’re really stand-alone and exempt choices, or if we must rethink its definition, given the factors that influence this process, and considering the human as an occupational being, as a social actor, and with it the practices of Occupational Therapy.