A study of the development of traits of entry-level occupational therapy students.

OBJECTIVES This study compared the personality traits of entry-level occupational therapy students before and after their participation in 2 years of academic and clinical education in order to examine the change of traits in their professional personality profile. METHOD Forty-nine occupational therapy students completed the 18 scales of the California Psychological Inventory during their first fall and second spring semesters. This time span included two Level I and one Level II fieldwork experiences. RESULTS T tests were used to analyze the students' scales. Students' scores in the second test showed a statistically significant increase in 13 of the 18 scales as compared to their first test scores. Achievement via independence and psychological-mindedness emerged as the highest ranking personality traits of the students in their second test scores. CONCLUSION The occupational therapy curriculum may have influenced the scores of the entry-level students, in both intellectual and psychosocial traits, in a positive direction.