Abstract
The use of social media, specifically TikTok, was used to explore its impact on the perception of disabilities with pre-professional phase occupational therapy students.
Primary Author and Speaker: Amy E. Hudkins
Additional Authors and Speakers: Rachel Bills
The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of social media, specially TikTok, and its effects on the perception of disabilities. A descriptive study was conducted with 2nd-year, pre-professional phase occupational therapy students enrolled in an introductory occupational therapy course. The study explored the use of social media, specifically TikTok, and the effects it may have on perception of disability. A total of 14 subjects participated in the study, which included a self-designed, 10-question pre-test, followed by 4 weeks of intervention (follow and view 10 pre-selected TikTok user accounts on a daily basis), followed by a post-test. Results were analyzed descriptively and showed that there was a slight favorable increase in the perception of people with disabilities amongst the subjects. This data shows that social media, specifically TikTok, may have positive effects on pre-professional occupational therapy student’s perception of people with disabilities. Social media has created a new way of understanding how an individual with disabilities lives and engages in daily occupations. Pre-professional phase occupational therapy students may benefit from regularly viewing social media accounts of those with disabilities. Advocacy and awareness are the preliminary steps into creating a more accepting society; this is the beginning of the future for those with disabilities.
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