View in EDS

How Identities Shape Belonging in Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Belonging

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: How Identities Shape Belonging in Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Belonging
Language: English
Authors: Quinn P. Tyminski, Rowhea Elmesky
Source: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 2025 9(4).
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: 34
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Sense of Belonging, Occupational Therapy, Allied Health Occupations Education, Identification (Psychology), Minority Group Students, Social Discrimination, Graduate Students, Doctoral Students, Private Colleges, Educational Environment
ISSN: 2573-1378
Abstract: Belonging is defined in a variety of ways but most often refers to an individual's feelings of acceptance, inclusion, support, and respect within a certain environment. Belonging is an innate human need and contributes to success in academic and professional settings. Within occupational therapy (OT) education, minimal attention has been paid to the specific concept of belonging with no research focused on long-term qualitative explorations of student belonging for students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs). Thus, the goal of the present study was to better understand how students with multiple HMIs experienced the phenomenon of belonging in OT education. Utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, this study synthesized data from course assignments, focus groups, interviews, and reflective journals from a single cohort of OT students for one calendar year. Theoretical frameworks from sociology and psychology were leveraged to understand how students, particularly those with HMIs, navigated and experienced belonging. Evidence indicates that holding multiple minoritized identities can amplify experiences of discrimination and impact how belonging is perceived. Thus an additional framework of intersectionality highlights the need for inclusive educational practices that are sensitive to diverse student experiences. Data from this study is presented in a series of student vignettes each demonstrating a unique experience of belonging for multiple intersecting identities. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive practices, supportive faculty, and peer connections in fostering a sense of belonging. This research contributes to the broader discourse on educational inclusion by highlighting the intricate interplay of identity, environment, and institutional culture in shaping students' experiences of belonging.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1488566
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1488566
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1488566
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: How Identities Shape Belonging in Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Belonging
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Quinn+P%2E+Tyminski%22">Quinn P. Tyminski</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rowhea+Elmesky%22">Rowhea Elmesky</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Occupational+Therapy+Education%22"><i>Journal of Occupational Therapy Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 9(4).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education. 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475. e-mail: jote@eku.edu; Web site: https://encompass.eku.edu/jote/
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 34
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sense+of+Belonging%22">Sense of Belonging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Occupational+Therapy%22">Occupational Therapy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations+Education%22">Allied Health Occupations Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Identification+%28Psychology%29%22">Identification (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Group+Students%22">Minority Group Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Discrimination%22">Social Discrimination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Graduate+Students%22">Graduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Doctoral+Students%22">Doctoral Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Colleges%22">Private Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Environment%22">Educational Environment</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2573-1378
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Belonging is defined in a variety of ways but most often refers to an individual's feelings of acceptance, inclusion, support, and respect within a certain environment. Belonging is an innate human need and contributes to success in academic and professional settings. Within occupational therapy (OT) education, minimal attention has been paid to the specific concept of belonging with no research focused on long-term qualitative explorations of student belonging for students with historically minoritized identities (HMIs). Thus, the goal of the present study was to better understand how students with multiple HMIs experienced the phenomenon of belonging in OT education. Utilizing hermeneutic phenomenology, this study synthesized data from course assignments, focus groups, interviews, and reflective journals from a single cohort of OT students for one calendar year. Theoretical frameworks from sociology and psychology were leveraged to understand how students, particularly those with HMIs, navigated and experienced belonging. Evidence indicates that holding multiple minoritized identities can amplify experiences of discrimination and impact how belonging is perceived. Thus an additional framework of intersectionality highlights the need for inclusive educational practices that are sensitive to diverse student experiences. Data from this study is presented in a series of student vignettes each demonstrating a unique experience of belonging for multiple intersecting identities. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive practices, supportive faculty, and peer connections in fostering a sense of belonging. This research contributes to the broader discourse on educational inclusion by highlighting the intricate interplay of identity, environment, and institutional culture in shaping students' experiences of belonging.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1488566
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1488566
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Sense of Belonging
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Occupational Therapy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Identification (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Discrimination
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Graduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Doctoral Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Private Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Environment
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: How Identities Shape Belonging in Occupational Therapy Education: A Phenomenological Exploration of Student Belonging
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Quinn P. Tyminski
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rowhea Elmesky
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2573-1378
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 9
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Occupational Therapy Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1