Prevention and Intervention

The Lived Experience of Homeless Mothers’ Participation in an OT Leisure Craft

Group
Winifred Schultz-Krohn, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, BCP, SWC, Carina Mena, Emily Winter, Alison Roozeboom,
Lisa Vu, Erica Yee, BA
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, USA
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.2020.74S1-PO9510
Date presented: March 28, 2020
Primary Author and Speaker: Winifred Schultz-Krohn, winifred.schultz-krohn@sjsu.edu

PURPOSE: On any given evening, an estimated 553,742 individuals in the United States experience homelessness (Henry, Watt,
Rosenthal, & Shivji, 2017). Homeless individuals face many challenges participating in meaningful, everyday occupations due to
limited resources and overwhelming stress that negatively influences engagement in preferred activities (Roy et al., 2017). Homeless
mothers would benefit greatly from OT services. There is a need to “identify, understand, and evaluate [OT] practices that are applied
or applicable to the needs, desires, rights, and occupational characteristics of this population” (p. 2). Klitzing (2004) found that
homeless women use leisure as a tool to cope with chronic stress but the opportunities for these activities is extremely limited.
Engagement in leisure activities serves as an effective coping strategy to combat chronic stress (Griffiths & Corr, 2007). This
investigation sought to answer: What was the lived experiences of homeless mothers participating in an occupational therapy
leisure craft group?
DESIGN: This phenomenological investigation used semi-structured interviews to understand the experience of mothers, residing in
a shelter, after participating in occupational therapy craft groups. Eight mothers, 23 to 42 years old, residing in an emergency
shelter, were recruited to participate in the groups, held twice a week, at the shelter. Informed consent was obtained prior to
participation. Sessions were offered by occupational therapy graduate students supervised by a professor with substantial
experience at this shelter. Mothers received instruction and materials to create low-cost/no-cost craft items.
METHOD: After participating in several group sessions, each mother was individually interviewed using a semi-structured guide. All
interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a constant comparative method for themes. The research
team members independently coded all transcripts and then created a code directory that underwent revisions during the analysis
process. The final code directory was used to search for themes that emerged from the data analysis process. Saturation of data was
obtained using the final code directory.
RESULTS: Four themes emerged from the interview data. Perceived impact of crafts on roles and routines emerged from coded
material reflecting past experiences and current engagement particularly in the role of being a mother. This theme included how
crafts were incorporated into the co-occupation of parenting. The theme of Barriers to engaging in crafts was seen as mothers
discussed the challenges and difficulties faced since being homeless. These challenges restricted engaging in crafts as a leisure and
restorative process. Perceived benefits of engaging in crafting emerged as mothers discussed psychosocial benefits of reduced
stress, increased creativity, and opportunities to create crafts for others. The final theme of Occupational therapists supporting craft
participation reflected the supportive and affirming environment that was created within the social milieu of the occupational therapy
weekly craft group. All mothers reported the benefits of participating in the group while identifying the limitations in opportunities
while residing at the shelter.
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot investigation provides initial evidence of the self-identified benefits homeless mothers’ attributed to
participating in an occupational therapy craft group using low-cost/no-cost materials.
IMPACT STATEMENT: Occupational therapy services are underutilized with the homeless population and yet these professional
services are beneficial. This underserved population would benefit from occupational therapy services and homeless mothers
should be afforded these opportunities.

References
Griffiths, S., & Corr, S. (2007). The use of creative activities with people with mental health problems: A survey of occupational therapists. British Journal of
Occupational Therapy, 70(3), 107-114. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260707000303
Henry, M., Watt, R., Rosenthal, L., & Shivji, A. (2017). The 2017 annual homeless assessment report (AHAR) to Congress: Part 1: Point-in-time estimates of
homelessness. Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved from https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/
documents/2017-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
Klitzing, S. W. (2004). Women living in a homeless shelter: Stress, coping and leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 36(4), 483-512. https://doi.org/10.1080/
00222216.2004.11950033
Roy, L., Vallée, C., Kirsh, B. H., Marshall, C. A., Marval, R., & Low, A. (2017). Occupation-based practices and homelessness: A scoping review. Canadian
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 84(2), 98-110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417416688709

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, August 2020, Vol. 74, Supplement 1
Copyright of American Journal of Occupational Therapy is the property of American
Occupational Therapy Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple
sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission.
However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.