The Relationship Between Carkhuff's Helping Dimensions and Occupational Therapy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between Carkhuff's (1969) four core dimensions (empathy, respect, genuineness, concreteness) on the one hand, with the total mark on a modified American Fieldwork Performance Report (FWPR), total score on the communication section of the FWPR, score on a single item of “Communication with Clients” on the FWPR and Factor A (warmth) of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) on the other. Subjects were 42 female and 4 male final year occupational therapy students at an Australian university. Multiple regression analyses and bivariate correlation coefficients failed to reveal any significant relationships. Contrary to original expectations, it was hypothesised post hoc that a positive relationship exists between communication with clients on the modified FWPR and Factor E (assertiveness) of the 16PF. This post hoc hypothesis was confirmed for psychosocial settings (r (44) = .35, p < .05) but was not supported for physical settings. Whether emphasis on assertiveness rather than the helping dimensions is acceptable depends on one's professional and personal perspective. For those with a commitment to the wholeness and uniqueness of the individual, this emphasis is a matter of concern.

Coping strategies employed by occupationa therapy students anticipating fieldwork placement

“…'The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire' (16 PF; Cattell, Eber & Tatsuoka, 1992) is a multidimensional set of 16 questionnaire scales that provides 16 basic scores for primary personality traits (Cattell et al, 1992), which has been used in the past with occupational therapy students (Lloyd & Maas, 1992). The 16 PF scales are bipolar; that is, each scale has a higher and lower range.…”