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Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that there is an increasing trend of graduate students experiencing poor well-being during their educational experience. Health professions students are at an even higher risk for psychological and psychosocial distress. However, there is limited programming to promote graduate student well-being provided in academic settings as most programming is focused on undergraduate students. Purpose: The primary purpose of this exploratory predictive and descriptive, cross-sectional survey study was to determine if self-compassion and occupational engagement constructs (engagement in meaningful occupations, occupational balance, physical activity) significantly predict overall well-being constructs (general psychological distress, health, wellness, general well-being, psychological well-being) in graduate health professions students. A secondary purpose was to determine if there is a statistically significant difference in ratings of self-compassion, occupational engagement constructs, and overall well-being constructs between graduate health professions students and graduate non-health professions student controls. Method: A convenience sampling method was used to recruit graduate health professions and non-health professions students. Data was collected through a survey including a demographic questionnaire and nine standardized assessments (Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey, Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, 14-Item Scales of General Well-Being, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales 21, Perceived Wellness Survey, Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well-Being, RAND Short Form 36 Health Survey). Multiple linear regression and independent t-test analyses were used. Results: 99 students from 6 different graduate programs (nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, business, education, law) participated. All five models were statistically significant with self-compassion, engagement in meaningful occupations, and occupational balance being the most consistent predictors of overall well-being. There were significant differences between health professions and non-health professions group scores for general psychological distress (p = .014, d = .502), self-compassion (p = .026, d = -.463), and health, (p = .026, d = -.491). Conclusions and Recommendations: Study results confirmed the predictive relationship of self-compassion and occupational engagement constructs with overall well-being within the graduate health professions student population. Graduate students, particularly health professions students, could benefit from programming to promote their well-being. As universities look to develop programming, they should consider including content on self-compassion, engagement in meaningful occupations, and occupational balance.

Author Bio(s)

Elena Wong Espiritu, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR is an Associate Professor in the School of Occupational Therapy at Belmont University. Her research interests include promoting student well-being including developing and evaluating the effectiveness of an occupation-based well-being intervention for her dissertation work.

Cynthia Evetts, PhD, OTR is a Professor and Director of All Campuses in the School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman's University. This manuscript was part of Dr. Espiritu's dissertation work of which Dr. Evetts served as faculty advisor.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements The authors would also like to thank the Center for Research Design and Analysis at Texas Woman’s University for statistical consultation throughout this project.

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