Threshold occupational science concepts for lifestyle change: Doing wellness in a course for US college students

This theoretical paper proposes threshold concepts for lifestyle change rooted in the premise that an occupational approach, or 'doing', is central to creating more sustainable and effective wellness-promotion programs. Four threshold concepts are proposed: 1) tailoring interventions requires an understanding of occupational complexity from biological to socio-cultural levels and across the lifespan, 2) identifying ecological slots for lifestyle change requires examination of current occupational orchestration, 3) fostering effectual initiation and sustained lifestyle change should leverage the reinforcing nature of occupational participation/in-the-moment experiences, and 4) addressing the inertia/motivation to change balance is necessary to drive lifestyle change and overcome well-learned habits and routines. The application of these threshold concepts and supporting interdisciplinary evidence are illustrated in descriptions of the content and learning activities of the Living Well: Lifestyle balance and wellness promotion for college students course. It was designed to promote wellness at a critical occupational life stage addressing the complex occupational problems of youth transitioning to college.