title: A study of the development of traits of entry-level occupational therapy students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the personality traits of entry-level occupational therapy students before and after their participation in 2 years of academic and clinical education in order to examine the change of traits in their professional personality profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine occupational therapy students completed the 18 scales of the California Psychological Inventory during their first fall and second spring semesters. This time span included two Level I and one Level II fieldwork experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T tests were used to analyze the students' scales. Students' scores in the second test showed a statistically significant increase in 13 of the 18 scales as compared to their first test scores. Achievement via independence and psychological-mindedness emerged as the highest ranking personality traits of the students in their second test scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occupational therapy curriculum may have influenced the scores of the entry-level students, in both intellectual and psychosocial traits, in a positive direction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, New York University, New York 10012, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Donohue
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D010551:Personality; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors