Abstract
The high prevalence of rape, human trafficking, and domestic violence has resulted in an increased need for effective therapies that address sexual trauma. These three sets of trauma greatly impact the mental health of the survivors and Menon et al. (2020) state that there is a large overlap of health outcomes amongst survivors of these crimes. Of the estimated $3.1 trillion-dollar economic cost of rape, approximately $2.8 trillion dollars results from medical costs and lost productivity costs (Peterson et al., 2017). Survivors of sexual trauma have reported difficulty in participating in meaningful occupations. Some examples reported by Cerny (2016) include challenges with work, parenting, leisure, home management, education, and participation in activities of daily living. These concerns are compounded by the significantly high rates of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression experienced in this population as mental health conditions can interfere with a survivor’s ability to manage routines, form relationships, complete role responsibilities, and participate in important daily occupations (Cerny et al., 2019; Gerney & Muffly, 2015; Menon et al., 2020). As reported by Gerney and Muffly (2015), traditional PTSD treatment methods are not always effective for a large portion of women who have experienced sexual trauma. Therefore, other methods are required for successful intervention. This paper explored the effectiveness of participation in meaningful, occupation-based activities for improved occupational performance and satisfaction in survivors of sexual trauma. Authors found that among multiple studies, the implementation of occupation-based treatments were found to be beneficial in reducing symptoms of depression, PTSD, and other mental health symptoms. Occupational therapists can assist survivors of sexual trauma in their recovery process by implementing meaningful, occupation-based activities into their daily routines to improve overall occupational performance and satisfaction.