Attachment Styles and Factors affecting Career Choice of Occupational Therapy Students

Abstract

Adult attachment theory, a theory of personality, has been connected to a range of factors that may contribute to one's professional choice, job satisfaction and performance. To date, the implications of this theory for the profession of occupational therapy have not been investigated. This study examined the adult attachment styles of 124 first and fourth year occupational therapy students at The University of Queensland in relation to factors affecting career choice and satisfaction with career choice. The results showed that the majority of the participants had a secure attachment style, were people orientated and were satisfied with their choice of career. In accordance with adult attachment theory, the participants with a secure attachment style rated people-orientated factors as important when choosing occupational therapy as a career and were more satisfied with their choice of career than the participants with an insecure attachment style. The study suggests that adult attachment style might warrant consideration in light of recruitment and retention.