Trauma, Sensory Processing, and the Impact of Occupational Therapy on Youth Behavior in Juvenile Corrections.

Incarcerated youth have histories of high rates of childhood traumatic experiences which may correlate with sensory processing patterns and increased violent behavior. This mixed methods study explored the relationship between these variables as well as functional benefits of sensory-based occupational therapy treatment for incarcerated youth. Significant correlations were found between several pairs of variables and key-results showed youth who participated in occupational therapy had fewer violent behaviors. Client voices affirmed that occupational therapy reduced violence, provided support, and gave hope for the future. These findings suggest occupational therapy intervention help reduce violent behavior and promote safety in juvenile correctional facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]