Applying an occupational perspective to women’s experiences of life after sexual assault: A narrative review

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe negative consequences of sexual assault on women’s health are well-researched. Given that a reciprocal relationship between health and occupation exists, it is likely that the consequences of sexual assault extend beyond health to include consequences for women’s occupations. However, whether and how women’s occupations are changed by an experience of sexual assault is not yet well understood. The purpose of this narrative overview was to provide a comprehensive description of what is currently known about the occupational aftermath (i.e., changes to individuals’ occupational lives after trauma) of sexual assault that occurs in adulthood. An occupational perspective was used to reframe the findings presented in 26 articles describing longitudinal studies of women’s experiences of life after sexual assault. Findings suggest that although changes to women’s occupations after sexual assault are addressed in the literature, the understanding of the occupational aftermath of sexual assault as presented is narrow and partial. Insufficient consideration is given to the breadth and depth of the daily occupations in which women might engage after sexual assault, as well as to the variety of ways in which women’s occupational engagement might change after sexual assault. Further nuanced exploration of the occupational aftermath of sexual assault is warranted and necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the changes to occupation that might occur after sexual assault, as well as to illuminate the reasons for and consequences of these changes to occupation.