Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users

Background People with mental health issues often experience difficulties with sensory modulation affecting occupational engagement. Research conducted in inpatient units has shown positive effects of individual sensory modulation interventions, however, research on experiences of group-based interv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Klara Forsberg, Daniel Sutton, Sigrid Stjernswärd, Ulrika Bejerholm, Elisabeth Argentzell
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2023.2294767
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832587175338704896
author Klara Forsberg
Daniel Sutton
Sigrid Stjernswärd
Ulrika Bejerholm
Elisabeth Argentzell
author_facet Klara Forsberg
Daniel Sutton
Sigrid Stjernswärd
Ulrika Bejerholm
Elisabeth Argentzell
author_sort Klara Forsberg
collection DOAJ
description Background People with mental health issues often experience difficulties with sensory modulation affecting occupational engagement. Research conducted in inpatient units has shown positive effects of individual sensory modulation interventions, however, research on experiences of group-based interventions in outpatient units is limited. Hence, a group-based sensory modulation intervention was adapted and tested within Swedish mental health outpatient units.Aim To explore the experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for service users in mental health outpatient units.Material and methods This qualitative study involved interviews with 25 informants who had participated in the intervention. The interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Synthesis of the interviews resulted in one overarching theme of ‘Embodied awareness facilitates improved coping and sense of self’ organised into four themes: (1) ‘Developing embodied awareness and strategies’, (2) ‘Taking control of everyday life’, (3) ‘Creating a stronger sense of self’, and (4) ‘From alienation to belonging’.Conclusion and significance The informants experienced the intervention to provide new embodied coping strategies that had previously been neglected. This understanding may enrich occupational therapy practice in new ways to support service users’ engagement in occupations.
format Article
id doaj-art-dfb7f296e372456a8c1d5e94bfb5e25a
institution Kabale University
issn 1103-8128
1651-2014
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
spelling doaj-art-dfb7f296e372456a8c1d5e94bfb5e25a2025-01-24T17:53:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy1103-81281651-20142024-12-0131110.1080/11038128.2023.2294767Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service usersKlara Forsberg0Daniel Sutton1Sigrid Stjernswärd2Ulrika Bejerholm3Elisabeth Argentzell4Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Mental Health, Activity and Participation (MAP), Lund University, Lund, SwedenFaculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Department of Occupational Science and Therapy, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandFaculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Health-promoting Complex Interventions, Lund University, Lund, SwedenFaculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Mental Health, Activity and Participation (MAP), Lund University, Lund, SwedenFaculty of Medicine, Department of Health Sciences, Mental Health, Activity and Participation (MAP), Lund University, Lund, SwedenBackground People with mental health issues often experience difficulties with sensory modulation affecting occupational engagement. Research conducted in inpatient units has shown positive effects of individual sensory modulation interventions, however, research on experiences of group-based interventions in outpatient units is limited. Hence, a group-based sensory modulation intervention was adapted and tested within Swedish mental health outpatient units.Aim To explore the experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for service users in mental health outpatient units.Material and methods This qualitative study involved interviews with 25 informants who had participated in the intervention. The interview data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results Synthesis of the interviews resulted in one overarching theme of ‘Embodied awareness facilitates improved coping and sense of self’ organised into four themes: (1) ‘Developing embodied awareness and strategies’, (2) ‘Taking control of everyday life’, (3) ‘Creating a stronger sense of self’, and (4) ‘From alienation to belonging’.Conclusion and significance The informants experienced the intervention to provide new embodied coping strategies that had previously been neglected. This understanding may enrich occupational therapy practice in new ways to support service users’ engagement in occupations.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2023.2294767Mental illnessgroup interventionoccupational therapycopingrecovery
spellingShingle Klara Forsberg
Daniel Sutton
Sigrid Stjernswärd
Ulrika Bejerholm
Elisabeth Argentzell
Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Mental illness
group intervention
occupational therapy
coping
recovery
title Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
title_full Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
title_fullStr Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
title_full_unstemmed Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
title_short Experiences of participating in a group-based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
title_sort experiences of participating in a group based sensory modulation intervention for mental health service users
topic Mental illness
group intervention
occupational therapy
coping
recovery
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/11038128.2023.2294767
work_keys_str_mv AT klaraforsberg experiencesofparticipatinginagroupbasedsensorymodulationinterventionformentalhealthserviceusers
AT danielsutton experiencesofparticipatinginagroupbasedsensorymodulationinterventionformentalhealthserviceusers
AT sigridstjernsward experiencesofparticipatinginagroupbasedsensorymodulationinterventionformentalhealthserviceusers
AT ulrikabejerholm experiencesofparticipatinginagroupbasedsensorymodulationinterventionformentalhealthserviceusers
AT elisabethargentzell experiencesofparticipatinginagroupbasedsensorymodulationinterventionformentalhealthserviceusers