Participants' occupational lives revealed, as expected, several subthemes depicting negative and/or isolating experiences. However, participants' occupations directly impacted both their environmental contexts and internal experiences, suggesting occupational performance may be a powerful mechanism of change for this population. Findings offer promise that occupational therapists could facilitate healthpromoting occupational participation which, in turn, may result in more positive and health-promoting environments and internal experiences.

Date Presented 04/06/19 This study uses a grounded theory approach to understand how borderline personality disorder (BPD) affects occupational participation. Environment, occupation, and internal experiences are discussed in the context of the lives of 18 participants with BPD. Affirming occupations provided escape from harmful environments and promoted positive internal experiences. By contrast, absence of affirming occupations resulted in problematic environmental challenges and distressing internal experiences. Primary Author and Speaker: Emily Mokol Additional Authors and Speakers: Kyra Jo Gaerke, Sally Wasmuth, Trevor Manspeaker, Karolina Szymaszek