Occupational Needs and Goals of Survivors of Domestic Violence

Abstract

This study's purpose was to describe the occupational needs and goals of women residing in a domestic violence shelter and their self-perceived changes in satisfaction and occupational performance. Using a retrospective design, data from 68 occupational therapy evaluations from two domestic violence shelter settings were examined. Data were analyzed by coding problem areas and occupational goals and calculating frequencies for these variables. Where data were available, we also analyzed changes in pre- and postscores for self-perceived satisfaction and occupational performance (n = 25). The most common problem areas were leisure, education, work, child rearing, and health management. The most common goals were in the areas of education, work, health management, child rearing, and home management. Retrospective pre- and postchange scores in performance and satisfaction for 25 women were statistically significant. Findings provide direction for, and highlight the importance of occupational therapy services within domestic violence shelters as women regain their life skills.

Occupational needs and priorities of women experiencing homelessness

“…This finding is consistent with the occupational therapy literature on the relationship between boredom and substance misuse, and engagement in pleasurable and meaningful activities as a way of occupying time that is typically used consuming substances (Raphael-Greenfield & Gutman, 2015). The importance of active leisure for women experiencing homelessness has seldom been identified; in a recent study, however, survivors of domestic violence did identify health management, including physical activity, as a priority (Javaherian-Dysinger et al, 2016). The difference in these results might be because previous studies were conducted in short-term or emergency shelters, whereas the study by Javaherian-Dysinger et al (2016) and the present study were conducted in longer-term settings where participants may have been able to focus on leisure and health-based goals.…”

“…The importance of active leisure for women experiencing homelessness has seldom been identified; in a recent study, however, survivors of domestic violence did identify health management, including physical activity, as a priority (Javaherian-Dysinger et al, 2016). The difference in these results might be because previous studies were conducted in short-term or emergency shelters, whereas the study by Javaherian-Dysinger et al (2016) and the present study were conducted in longer-term settings where participants may have been able to focus on leisure and health-based goals. Outside occupational therapy, a number of studies conducted indicate that subjective healthy leisure was associated with decreased substance use (Weybright, Caldwell, Ram, Smith, & Wegner, 2015, 2016).…”

“…Qualitative studies have identified common occupational experiences associated with homelessness, including boredom or occupational deprivation, engagement and development of skills in survival activities, and seeking enjoyable and enriching occupations (Heuchemer & Josephsson, 2006;Illman, Spence, O'Campo, & Kirsh, 2013). Studies that focused exclusively on the occupational characteristics of women found that performance of parenting occupations was a significant concern for homeless women and shelter staff (Gorde et al, 2004;Humbert, Bess, & Mowery, 2013;Javaherian-Dysinger et al, 2016;Ray, 2006;Schultz-Krohn, 2004).…”

The CARE Health Advocacy Intervention Improves Trauma-Informed Practices at Domestic Violence Service Organizations to Address Brain Injury, Mental Health, and Substance Use

“…Although some of these troubles may overlap or be caused by the neurobiological trauma response, many can be explained only by BI. Because of its impact on a wide range of functions, BI may compromise survivors' ability to reduce their risk of harm while in abusive relationships, hinder them from successfully engaging in the complex tasks required to escape their abusers, and impair their ability to seek safety, justice, health, and social services even years after the abuse has ended 11,13…”

Occupational Therapy Profession for Women Health–Challenges for its Under Developed Services

“…Enabling engagement in occupational performance of mothers, and adapting their social environment to intervene and address mothers' occupational needs are linked to physical and mental health [58]. Many other women-related health areas which greatly requires therapeutic health services to improve the quality of life, includes domestic violence, vulnerable mothers [37,38], and those with sleep disorders, weight-obesity issues [39,40], and the ever increasing functional issues from the many non-communicable diseases with comorbidities that limits functional abilities in daily living.…”