Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department

Occupational Therapy

First Advisor

Mandy Meyer

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals in several ways. “Home confinement can have negative effects on mental health and lifestyle behaviors including social participation and life satisfaction” (Ammar et al., 2020). Unfortunately, adolescents are more vulnerable than adults in regard to mental health problems during a lockdown because of the transitional life phase they are going through (Waters et al., 2021). Additionally, transitioning back to in-person education and social activities can become difficult for the adolescent population due to the mental health challenges and other various effects brought about by mandated isolation. A needs assessment and comprehensive literature review were conducted before the doctoral experiential placement began to determine the effects mandated isolation has on the adolescent population related to transitioning back to in-person education and social activities. Common themes were synthesized and identified from the literature review and skilled observations to assist with the development and creation of the product. The informal needs assessment and comprehensive literature review at the identified agency were used to determine themes to include within the development of the product. The Ecology of Human Performance model was used to guide the creation of the product. The completed product includes interventions honing in on common themes including intervention groups focusing on various coping skills, social skills, habit/routine building, and sensory tools. These intervention groups will provide the adolescents with the tools necessary to help with transitioning back to in-person education and social settings by being able to use the skills they learned from the group within their daily lives. Through the use of occupation-based strategies, occupational therapy practice can address the common themes that were found from the literature review and needs assessment by addressing improvement of social skills, demonstrating effective use of coping skills to assist with the mental health effects from mandated isolation, and establishing habits and routines to support a successful transition. The chosen group interventions within the product will address these theme areas and will assist adolescents who are addressing the transition back to in-person education and social activities during the COVID-19 global pandemic and far more.

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