Publication Year
2025
Faculty Advisor
Caroline Umeda, PhD, OTR/L
Program
Occupational Therapy
Abstract
Background: Occupational Therapy students experience high levels of stress due to academic demands, external pressures, and personal life matters. Commensality - the act of eating together- promotes social communion, and emotional well-being. Although commensality groups have demonstrated benefits for physicians, research has not been explored with OT students. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of commensality on OT students’ social connection and resilience in the face of stress. Methods: This study utilized an explanatory mixed-methods design after a four-session commensality pilot with first and second year OT doctoral students. Data were collected using a 13 item survey (n=7) and semi-structured interviews (n=5) and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and AI-assisted thematic analysis. Results: Shared experiences across cohorts normalized stress and decreased isolation. Commensality creates a recurring, predictable, food-centered pause. The group environment was comfortable, validating, psychologically safe, and non-judgmental. Recognition that others were facing the same problems normalized and validated participants’ experiences, reduced isolation, and created a shared sense of endurance. Seeing peers and upper-cohort members who endured similar challenges expanded participants’networks, fostered informal mentorship, and increased social connection with the OT program. Conclusion: Study findings contribute to emerging research on commensality groups and demonstrates its promise for OT students. The findings illustrate that resilience programs based in social connection hold value for OT students and suggest the importance of exploring commensality groups’ long-term effects, more frequent session, and virtual formats, as well as the potential value for OT practitioners. Keywords: commensality; resilience; social connection; occupational therapy students; mixed-methods; common humanity; cross-cohort connection.