Barriers and Facilitators of a Sense of Belonging among Occupational Therapy Students and Faculty: A Qualitative Study Using the Ecology of Human Performance Framework
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| Title: | Barriers and Facilitators of a Sense of Belonging among Occupational Therapy Students and Faculty: A Qualitative Study Using the Ecology of Human Performance Framework |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sabina Khan, Elizabeth DeLuca-Berg, Kersten Laughlin, Khalil Mrabe, Christianah Edema |
| Source: | Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 2025 9(1). |
| Availability: | Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 24 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Sense of Belonging, Occupational Therapy, Allied Health Occupations Education, College Faculty, Attitudes, Barriers, Stress Variables, Peer Influence, Group Dynamics, Teacher Role, Cultural Relevance, Leadership, Teamwork, Group Activities, Educational Environment, Teacher Student Relationship, Social Influences, Graduate Students |
| ISSN: | 2573-1378 |
| Abstract: | A sense of belonging significantly influences both student engagement and faculty motivation. The objective of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators of a sense of belonging among students and faculty of an occupational therapy department. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with fifty-one students and ten faculty recruited via non-random purposeful sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions with students and semi-structured interviews with faculty. Both the focus group discussions and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed by a professional transcription service. Inductive coding was used to identify initial themes, which were then deductively mapped to the context construct of the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) Framework. Five main themes emerged from the focus group discussions with students: personal challenges and emotional stressors, triggers in the learning environment, peer support and cohort dynamics, faculty support and engagement, and cultural sensitivity and representation. Three main themes emerged from the faculty interviews: leadership and team cohesion, membership in social groups and committees, and the physical environment and proximity to students. Mapping these themes to the EHP framework revealed that the physical and social environments had the greatest impact on the sense of belonging for both students and faculty in this study. Increasing opportunities for social interactions and addressing physical barriers to student-faculty engagement can enhance the sense of belonging in occupational therapy educational settings. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1459954 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | A sense of belonging significantly influences both student engagement and faculty motivation. The objective of this study was to identify the barriers and facilitators of a sense of belonging among students and faculty of an occupational therapy department. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with fifty-one students and ten faculty recruited via non-random purposeful sampling. Data were collected through focus group discussions with students and semi-structured interviews with faculty. Both the focus group discussions and interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed by a professional transcription service. Inductive coding was used to identify initial themes, which were then deductively mapped to the context construct of the Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) Framework. Five main themes emerged from the focus group discussions with students: personal challenges and emotional stressors, triggers in the learning environment, peer support and cohort dynamics, faculty support and engagement, and cultural sensitivity and representation. Three main themes emerged from the faculty interviews: leadership and team cohesion, membership in social groups and committees, and the physical environment and proximity to students. Mapping these themes to the EHP framework revealed that the physical and social environments had the greatest impact on the sense of belonging for both students and faculty in this study. Increasing opportunities for social interactions and addressing physical barriers to student-faculty engagement can enhance the sense of belonging in occupational therapy educational settings. |
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| ISSN: | 2573-1378 |
