International Travel Medicine Center of Iran International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health 2322-1100 6 2 2018 05 01 Immigration, Participation in Health Services and Social Occupations: A Literature Review 36 47 60249 10.15171/ijtmgh.2018.09 EN Farzaneh Yazdani Occupational Therapy Program, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK 0000-0002-5142-2014 Mehdi Rassafiani Occupational Therapy Department, Faculty of Allied Health, Kuwait University, Kuwait Iranian Research Centre on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran 0000-0003-4093-6113 Kellie Tune Occupational Therapy Program, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK Nicholas Pollard Occupational Therapy Program, Health & Wellbeing, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK Dikaios Sakellariou Occupational Therapy Program, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK 0000-0002-2668-2834 Mahdieh Fani Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK Laya Nobakht Department of Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 0000-0001-7068-9948 Sepide Firuzi Independent Clinician, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2018 01 24 <strong>Introduction:</strong> According to the World Health Organisation ‘participation’, meaning involvement in everyday occupations, has a positive influence on health and wellbeing and lack thereof can lead to negative health consequences. Occupational therapy scholars believe this phenomenon needs exploring with attention to context. Variability is apparent in the way participation has been addressed in the context of voluntary immigration. This review aims to identify how the concept of participation and its association with the health and wellbeing of immigrants is addressed in research literature.<br /> <strong>Methods:</strong> A literature review method was applied. The data bases searched were: PubMed, ASSIA, CINHAL, PsycINFO, AMED, CRD, EBESCO Host, Sociological Abstract, Lexis and EMBASE. Articles that fulfilled all inclusion criteria were critically appraised in order to assess their quality. Sixteen articles from major related databases were included. Qualitative analysis was used throughout.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> Participation was mostly identified by measuring the number of attendances or self-report of attendance in health-related services or social occupations. Four themes were identified: outlook of participation, contributing factors to participation, approaches to studying immigrants’ participation, and outcomes of participation.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Participation lacks a common and exclusive definition that considers both objective and subjective experiences. How immigrants’ backgrounds and future perspectives affect what ‘participation’ means to them needs further exploration. The current publication has identified several contributing factors that need considering in health and social-related policies, plans and strategies. It is significant that enabling factors such as the positive attitude of immigrants, and providing support to immigrants can facilitate their participation pattern. https://www.ijtmgh.com/article_60249_328f6ee7ae1b8287d04e116bdc9b865c.pdf