Development of a Self-Efficacy Scale for Occupational Therapy Students Participating in Clinical Training in the Field of Mental Disorders

Abstract

Students training in the field of mental disabilities experience specific difficulties engaging with their target group. Focusing on self-efficacy as a primary factor that enables students to manage the difficulties they face in training, this study developed indices to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions to enhance self-efficacy among occupational therapy students undertaking clinical training in the field of mental disabilities. In Study 1, students who completed clinical training in the field of mental disabilities were interviewed, and index items were developed using the information obtained. In Study 2, the reliability and validity of the indices were verified to confirm a two-factor structure and its reliability and validity. The confirmed factors were “achieving self-motivation regarding training” and “self-control behavior in training situations”.