Social participation and mental health: a pre-pandemic analysis by occupational therapy students (Concepción-Chile)

• Cristian Segura-Carrillo

  , Universidad Santo Tomás y Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5970-8121 (unauthenticated)

• Paola Chesta-Sanhueza

  , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0416-4833 (unauthenticated)

• María Daniela Isla-Sáez

  , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9407-3435 (unauthenticated)

• Marjory Márquez-Cabezas

  , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

  Author

  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4868-2058 (unauthenticated)

The implementation of virtuality as a strategy to continue teaching and training students during the pandemic resulted in a decrease in social participation. This study analyzes the perceived changes in social participation and its consequences on the mental health and academic performance of occupational therapy students in the context of virtual classes during the pandemic.
The study was conducted from a qualitative perspective using a phenomenological approach.

The participants were fourth-year occupational therapy students at a Chilean university who experienced both face-to-face and virtual classes during the pandemic.
Results indicate that virtual classes had multiple effects on social participation, causing social isolation and negatively affecting perceptions of mental health. Symptoms reported included fear, anxiety, stress, and feelings of distress and uncertainty. Nevertheless, the informants developed strategies to mitigate the effects of academic stress, confinement, and family coexistence.

1. Cristian Segura-Carrillo, , Universidad Santo Tomás y Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile

   Trabajador Social, Magíster en Trabajo Social y Políticas Sociales, (UdeC-Chile) Master en Docencia para la Educación Superior (UNAB-Chile), Doctor en Sociología por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Profesor Asistente, Escuela de Terapia Ocupacional, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile, Profesor Asistente, Departamento de Trabajo Social, Universidad de Concepción,
   Concepción, Chile, mail, crisegura@udec.cl, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5970-8121.

2. Paola Chesta-Sanhueza, , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

   Terapeuta Ocupacional, Magíster en Género e Intervención Social, en Universidad Bernardo O`Higgins, Profesora Adjunta, Escuela de Terapia Ocupacional, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile. mail: pchesta@santotomas.cl, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0416-4833

3. María Daniela Isla-Sáez, , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

   Terapeuta Ocupacional, Escuela de Terapia Ocupacional, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile, mail: m.isla2@alumnos.santotomas.cl, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9407-3435.

4. Marjory Márquez-Cabezas, , Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile

   Terapeuta Ocupacional, Escuela de Terapia Ocupacional, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile. mail: m.marquezc@alumnos.santotomas.cl, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4868-2058.

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