UNDERSTANDING THE OCCUPATION OF PLAY: A MIDDLE EASTERN REVELATION A PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION INTO ARAB PARENTAL VALUES AND CHILDREN’S ENGAGEMENT IN PLAY IN KUWAIT Feddah Musaed Ahmad A dissertation submitted to the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Allied Health Sciences (Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy). Chapel Hill 2020 Approved by: Ruth Humphry Nancy Bagatell Wanqing Zhang Linn Wakeford Mohammed Nader © 2020 Feddah Musaed Ahmad ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Feddah Musaed Ahmad: Understanding the Occupation of Play: A Middle Eastern Revelation A Preliminary Exploration into Arab Parental Values and Children’s Engagement in Play in Kuwait (Under the direction of Ruth Humphry) The constructs and meanings of play in diverse cultures are insufficiently represented in research. As a result, researchers frequently misconstrue the cultural and ethnic differences observed in children's play, and therefore, misinterpret child behavior and trajectories for development. Individual development occurs within socio-cultural and historical contexts based on the experiences, beliefs, values, and expectations of a given cultural milieu. The purpose of this research study is to investigate parental expectations based on how they interpret and understand the effects of play on children in Arab regions. To provide this backdrop, this research study is based in a predominantly Muslim country influenced by its religious teaching (Maktabi, 2016; Wheeler, 2000). Making sense of how play is represented in this population will provide a foundation for further research into how play connects to child development. As an initial step, this study seeks to (a) understand Arab parents’ conceptualization of their children’s play based on their cultural values and expectations and (b) explore and observe Arab children’s play, engagement, and interactions. Adopting multiple qualitative techniques—conducting interviews with parents, using photo-elicited methods, and naturalistically observing children in school environments—will enrich the understanding of play as an occupation. The research study might generalize to Arab (Gulf) populations due to the many cultural values derived from iii Islam in this region. The findings revealed a variation in themes based on parental expectations and child observations. In both research phases it suggested that children are shaped by cultural practices, and play was regarded as a developmental process of coming to observe, interpret, and understand skills needed to improve adaptive functions in becoming a valuable adult in society. iv الحمدهللا... حمدا كثير ا v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writing my dissertation has been the one of the most significant academic challenge I have ever faced. Without the support, patience, and guidance, I would not have completed this degree. To them I owe my deepest gratitude. This dissertation contains far more than the accumulation of years of studying. These pages reflect the relationships with many generous and inspiring people I have met along this journey. Dr. Ruth Humphry, my advisor and mentor, despite her many other academic and professional commitments, and retirement embarked upon this journey as my advisor. Her wisdom, knowledge, and commitment to the highest standards inspired and motivated me class by class and page by page. Without her faith, guidance, and persistent help completing this dissertation would have been impossible. I am grateful to my committee members and division faculty, for their encouraging words of wisdom, thoughtful advice, and time and attention throughout many busy semesters. Dr. Nancy Bagatell, Dr. Linn Wakeford, Dr. Wanqing Zhang and Dr. Mohammed Nadar, continuously conveyed excitement about my research and inspired my final effort despite the enormous pressures of each semester and other professional commitments. To both my editors David and Kathleen for their help, knowledge, technical assistance, and guidance. Their encouraging words kept the light shining at the end of the tunnel. To both my research assistants, Fatma and Alaa for your support in the late-night translation and back translation sessions. Thank you for your comforting words and faith in my work. I am grateful for my incredibly vi devoted participants and children without whose dedication to the research project, I would have been unable to embark on this endeavor. I am thankful for my invaluable network of supportive, generous, and loving siblings especially Mohammed, all my loving friends and my cohort (you know who you are!) … without whom I could not have survived this process and have been paramount in completing this journey. I will be forever grateful for their ears, eyes and hearts for believing in my purpose! Without the great examples in my life, and positive energy shining over me, I hope you are well up above! Rest in peace. I thank my grandmother, uncle, and father for instilled that “ I can achieve anything”. To my mother, Qumasha, for continuing to instill the same idea but that I can also set out to do it, if I do it wholeheartedly. Thank you all for the love and support! I would not be who I am today. Thank you for believing in me, for that I am forever in debt! Finally, the unselfish natures of whoever gave an ear to discuss my research and allowed me to pursue this adventure without guilt, for being my cheerleaders, counselors, and life rafts. Thank you for always coming to my rescue! I love you all to the moon and back! vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... xv LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................xvi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................xix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2: CULTURAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ................................................3 Kuwait’s Demographics ..................................................................................................3 Identity ............................................................................................................................4 Impact of Globalization ...................................................................................................4 Cultural Shifts .................................................................................................................6 Children’s Worlds ....................................................................................................7 Influence of Religious Beliefs and Cultural Practices ................................................8 Parental Figures, Family, and Community ................................................................9 Schools ................................................................................................................... 11 The Term Play: Parents and School Administration ....................................................... 12 viii CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................... 14 Literature Search Procedure ........................................................................................... 14 Play ............................................................................................................................... 15 Importance of Play.................................................................................................. 15 Occupation and Development ................................................................................. 15 Relationships: Parents and Communities ....................................................................... 17 Parental Role .......................................................................................................... 17 Community ............................................................................................................. 19 Need for the Research .................................................................................................... 20 Purpose of Study..................................................................................................... 20 Research Aims ........................................................................................................ 22 CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 23 Researcher Reflections: Understanding a Paradigm ....................................................... 23 Theoretical Frameworks ................................................................................................ 25 Transactional Perspective on Occupations: Relationship with the Social and Physical Worlds ..................................................................................... 26 Social Constructivist and Interpretive Reproduction Approaches ............................ 27 Eco-Cultural Model ................................................................................................ 28 ix Study Design ................................................................................................................. 29 Ethical Approval: Kuwait University and University