Impact of Basic Needs Fulfillment on the Health, Well-being, and Academic Engagement of Occupational Therapy Students

Abstract

The basic needs of students may serve as unknown factors in academic engagement and well-being. Challenges in meeting these needs disproportionately impact underrepresented minority and first-generation students. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the perceived presence and impact of basic needs on health, well-being, and academic engagement in occupational therapy students. A 43-item survey was distributed to 231 students and focused on questions addressing basic needs in physiology, safety, and belonging. Respondents reported worry over or the need to work to pay bills, no support from family/friends, and limited access to food in the past 30 days and related this to feeling stressed, not being able to do homework, not participating in class, and loss of leisure time. Ninety-four percent used student health services frequently. Recommendations to address gaps in basic needs include flexible policies, inclusive learning environments, supportive and intentional actions, and providing resources.

Keywords:

• Basic needs
• professional education
• health
• wellbeing
• academic engagement

About the authors

Steven D. Taff, PhD, OTR/L, FNAP, FAOTA is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Medicine in the Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Kathy Kniepmann, OTD, MPH, EdM, CHES, OTR/L, is Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology in the Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Lenin C. Grajo, PhD, EdM, OTR/L, is Director, Division of Professional Education and Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Psychiatry in the Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Duana C. Russell-Thomas, OTD, OTR/L, is a Clinical Specialist in the Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Christine Berg, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA is Professor of Occupational Therapy and Neurology in the Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to: Steven D. Taff, MSC 8505-45-01, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.