Exploring Stress Contagion: The Effect of Faculty Stress Levels on Occupational Therapy Graduate Students

Research has indicated a relationship between faculty and students as it pertains to stress levels and subsequent well-being in occupational therapy (OT) programs (Grab et al., 2021), a potential indication of a stress contagion effect. This research aimed to determine if faculty stress levels affect student stress levels in OT graduate programs. The researcher used an ecological correlational study design with a nonprobability convenience sampling procedure. Faculty and students (n = 19 and n = 165, respectively) from 367 accredited OT graduate programs across the United States completed a survey consisting of demographic questions and the PSS-10. In addition, OT students were given the University Stress Scale to adjust their PSS-10 scores for baseline stressors. Because of the ecological study design, comparisons were made at the group level (n = 6). Groups were formed based on program size (small, medium, large) and degree type (master’s, doctorate). A statistically significant, strong positive correlation existed between faculty PSS-10 scores and student-adjusted stress scores, rs(98) = .886, p < .05. The results indicate that faculty stress could be affecting student stress levels and aligns with the stress contagion effect. These findings have implications for university worksite wellness program design and implementation.