The nature and meaning of occupational engagement for forensic clients living in the community

There are few studies on how individuals with mental illness who have been charged with committing a crime and who are living in the community, spend their time and feel about it. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature and meaning of occupational engagement for these individuals. Criterion sampling was used to ensure that all participants were able to provide descriptions of their experience. Ten participants, 5 males and 5 females, were interviewed using an interview guide. Descriptive phenomenological methods adapted from those described by Giorgi (2005) were used. Trustworthiness was ensured via triangulation, peer review, clarification of researcher biases, member checking, and thick rich descriptions of the phenomenon, as experienced by the participants. The overall structure of the nature and meaning of occupational engagement for forensic outpatients living in the community consisted of four essences: doing the right thing, connecting with others, the importance of freedom and responsibility, and meeting the challenges to occupational engagement.

Key Words:

• Occupational engagement
• Meaning
• Forensic
• Phenomenology