Self-Care: An Occupational Therapy Student Perspective

Health professional students, including occupational therapy report increasing rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout while completing their academic programs study. Self-care is one potential solution to this crisis, as engagement in evidence-based self-care practices has been found improve the health well-being various student populations; however, students have not well studied. Therefore, study explored how understand practice self-care, correlates perceived stress. Twenty participants engaged a focus group completed 72-hour time diary. Focus results indicated that highly valued practices, reporting improves well-being, skill must be developed, plays critical role practice. Time diaries revealed most frequently recorded occupations were sleeping/napping, meal preparation/eating, watching television other streaming services. Total spent ranged from 9-55 hours, duration was correlate with stress or demographic variables. Results demonstrate type activities which engage may more beneficial than alone. Students benefit further development current future well-being. Occupational educators opportunity assist developing through intentional programming.