Date of Award

6-2024

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Briana Bonner OTD, OTR/L

Abstract

Introduction. Refugees and asylum seekers are subsects of immigrants who are forcibly displaced from their home environments. They face unique challenges after immigrating that prohibit their ability to acclimate to their new environments, such as language barriers, role and identity changes, and a lack of social support. This capstone project explores the effects of a ten-week client-centered life skills education program on integration into their newfound communities for refugees and asylum seekers. Methods. Three participants who identified as refugees or asylum seekers seeking services at the community partner for this project, Matthew House, were included. All participants were from Afghanistan and had resided in Chandler, AZ for no more than two years. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Occupational Self Assessment, and the Life Skills Exit Survey were three outcome measures used to evaluate changes in performance and satisfaction with the life skills covered throughout the program. Results. From the COPM, participants uniquely exhibited challenges with various occupational problems, and performance and satisfaction scores generally improved after the program. From the OSA, self-expression and a satisfying routine were the most shared concerns that participants exhibited difficulties with. Increased self-confidence in and increased knowledge of skills were two themes that emerged from the life skills program exit survey. Conclusion: The findings conveyed that a life skills education program effectively supports refugees and asylum seekers’ integration into their new environments. Occupational therapy is an instrumental profession that can enhance the quality of life for this population due to its holistic, client-centered nature, and because life skills are daily occupations.

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