Co-occupation: Extending the Dialogue

Co-occupation is a concept not thoroughly studied or understood. A new definition of co-occupation is proposed which postulates that the nature of engagement in co-occupation involves aspects of shared physicality, shared emotionality, and shared intentionality, embedded in shared meaning. Each of the aspects is explored through vignettes and reflections on previous literature. Three propositions are presented to advance the understanding of co-occupation: 1) a spectrum of co-occupations exists and each type of co-occupation is characterized by unique aspects; 2) the nature of co-occupation may be understood through quantitative and/or qualitative means and; 3) impairment or disability across the lifespan may influence how the co-occupation is manifested and this has implications for research and practice. As the title suggests we put forth these ideas to open a dialogue to enhance knowledge and understanding about co-occupation.