OTJR

Home > OTJR

About the Journal

OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research reflects AOTF’s commitment to advancing occupational therapy through scientific inquiry. The journal publishes quantitative and qualitative research, systematic reviews, and data-driven findings — with or without statistical significance — that advance the understanding of occupation, participation, and health across the lifespan.
OTJR fosters interdisciplinary dialogue with scholars from psychology, neuroscience, economics, anthropology, sociology, geography, rehabilitation science, nursing, and social work. It is published quarterly by SAGE Publications in partnership with AOTF.

Since January 2020, OTJR has moved to online-only for individual subscribers (AOTA and Pi Theta Epsilon members). Articles from 2002 onward are available at journals.sagepub.com.

Topics covered

  • Occupation and health across the lifespan
  • Occupational development and aging
  • Body function and occupational performance
  • Social, built, and natural environments
  • Habits, roles, meaning, and behavior
  • Effectiveness of occupation-based interventions
  • Influence of culture on occupation
  • Psychometric properties of OT measures
  • Lifestyle redesign and occupational choice
  • Social policy and its impact on occupation

JOURNAL DETAILS

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Frequency: Quarterly

H-Index: 47

SCImago rank: 0.461 (Q1)

ISSN (print): 1539-4492

ISSN (online): 1938-2383

Online Access

AOTA and Pi Theta Epsilon members access OTJR online. Articles from 2002 onward are available through SAGE. For subscriber support, visit journals.sagepub.com.

Submit your Research

Ready to submit?

otjreditor@aotf.org

Open Access publishing

Learn about SAGE Choice · Check institutional agreements

Reviewer-in-Training program

Advertising and reprints

Resources for authors and reviewers

APA Style JARS

Reporting standards for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research manuscripts.

View guidelines

How to review articles

SAGE’s reviewer guidance including standards, timelines, and best practices for peer review.

Reviewer resources

Special issues and collections

Themed collections including the Occupational Science Section and past special issues.

Browse collections

Inclusive language guide

SAGE’s guide for authors on using person-first, equitable language throughout manuscripts.

View guide

AI policy

SAGE’s policies on the use of artificial intelligence in manuscript preparation and peer review.

Read policy

Plain language summaries

SAGE’s guidance for writing accessible, plain-language summaries of published research.

Learn more

Editorial history

OTJR was founded in 1980. Since Volume 22 (2002), the journal has published under its current name to reflect the profession’s commitment to occupational science and evidence-based practice.

2021 present
Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
University of Missouri
2015 2020
Sherrilene Classen, PhD, MPH, OTR, FAOTA
University of Florida
2012 2014
Kathleen Matuska, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
2008 2012
Jane Case-Smith, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA
2005 2007
Helene Polatajko, PhD, OTR Reg(Ont), FCA
2001 2004
M. Carolyn Baum, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
1998 2000
Bette Bonder, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
1991 1997
Margaret Short-DeGraff, PhD, OTR/L
1987 1990
Kenneth Ottenbacher, PhD, OTR, FAOTA
1980 1986
Charles Christiansen, EdD, OTR, FAOTA
Founding Editor