Current literature identifies a lack of knowledge and understanding of the long-term responses to extreme trauma in children, particularly from an occupational therapy perspective. Five schoolchildren participatated in the present study to sxplore and describe a child's occupational performance as a school student following their experience of refugee trauma. The study used semi-structured, indepth interviews with the children, parents and teachers. The interviews were combined with participant observation within various school environments. The results indicate that a child's student role performance can be affected by the experience of refugee trauma. Effects were manifested in various ways, such as poor academic performance, gross motor problems and difficulty interacting with peers. It is critical that occupational therapists recognize their potential contribution in meeting the needs of children from politically troubled countries who have experienced trauma. Opportunities to work with these children are suggested, as are avenues for further research.

New arrival Functional performance Children School student Occupational roles Refugee trauma

motor performance handwriting motor dysfunction teacher refugee human social interaction pediatrics child behavior academic achievement interview school child Adolescent male female clinical article Article Occupational Therapy psychotrauma parent