Date of Award
8-1993
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Dr. Richard Cooper
Second Advisor
Dr. Joan Uhley
Third Advisor
Dr. Shirley Lukens
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Thirty-nine undergraduate occupational therapy and fifty-seven entry-level graduate occupational therapy students from eight randomly selected academic programs were surveyed using the Opinions About Mental Illness Scales ([OMI], Cohen and Struening, 1959) and the Mental Health Information Questionnaire ([MHIQ], Nunnally, 1961). Results revealed that both student groups’ knowledge toward the mentally disabled was more similar to the general public’s knowledge. Using a one-tailed t-test to compare the MHIQ factors revealed there was no statistically significant difference between the occupational therapy student groups.
Both student groups’ OMI factor scores were similar to an expert group for Factors A B, and D; however, both student groups endorsed Factors C and E. A one-tailed t-test compared the OMI factors between student groups revealing graduate students endorsed Factor D (t = 2.67, p < .5). There were no statistically significant differences for Factors A, B, C, and E.
Recommended Citation
McCarthy, Patricia, "Attitudes of Occupational Therapy Students toward the Mentally Disabled" (1993). Masters Theses. 829.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/829