Type of Presentation
Poster Session
Location
University Library
Start Date
4-18-2024 11:45 AM
End Date
4-18-2024 1:15 PM
Description of Program
Graduate school stress impacts academic performance, prompting graduate occupational therapy (OT) students to manage stress for well-being during fieldwork. A study surveyed 34 graduate OT students to identify effective stress management strategies. Results identified various occupational strategies, some more effective than others, with 62% reporting strategies were somewhat effective. Universities offer support, but it may not fully meet student needs.
Abstract
Stress is a major concern that increases in graduate school impacting academic performance. Due to this issue, graduate students must find ways to manage stress and maintain well-being to promote occupational performance. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceived effectiveness of occupations chosen by graduate level OT students in maintaining well-being and managing stress during level II fieldwork. This descriptive research described and explored occupations utilized to manage stress and their effectiveness. Data was gathered using SurveyMonkey and analyzed for frequencies of responses and common themes. 34 participants completed the survey. Our results identified occupations OT students are using to maintain well-being during fieldwork, determined the most effective and ineffective strategies as perceived by participants, and identified strategies that are available from their universities. Consistent with the literature, this study found that OT students experience higher levels of stress during fieldwork and utilize a variety of occupations to manage stress and maintain well-being with some of these occupations more effective than others. Overall, 62% of participants reported that their strategies were only somewhat effective in managing stress. Our findings were also consistent with the literature in identifying that universities do offer some supports although they aren't meeting students’ needs. Universities can help students understand the benefits of reaching out to use them for support, but also tailor resources to the students’ needs so that students want to use the resources.
Presentation File
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Included in
Occupational Therapy Students' Perceptions of Managing Stress on Fieldwork through Occupational Engagement
University Library
Stress is a major concern that increases in graduate school impacting academic performance. Due to this issue, graduate students must find ways to manage stress and maintain well-being to promote occupational performance. The purpose of this study was to identify the perceived effectiveness of occupations chosen by graduate level OT students in maintaining well-being and managing stress during level II fieldwork. This descriptive research described and explored occupations utilized to manage stress and their effectiveness. Data was gathered using SurveyMonkey and analyzed for frequencies of responses and common themes. 34 participants completed the survey. Our results identified occupations OT students are using to maintain well-being during fieldwork, determined the most effective and ineffective strategies as perceived by participants, and identified strategies that are available from their universities. Consistent with the literature, this study found that OT students experience higher levels of stress during fieldwork and utilize a variety of occupations to manage stress and maintain well-being with some of these occupations more effective than others. Overall, 62% of participants reported that their strategies were only somewhat effective in managing stress. Our findings were also consistent with the literature in identifying that universities do offer some supports although they aren't meeting students’ needs. Universities can help students understand the benefits of reaching out to use them for support, but also tailor resources to the students’ needs so that students want to use the resources.