Birth Order of the Rec. Therapist

I posted a birth order survey at my site in August 2013.

I did this because I had read a book by Dr. Kevin Lehman on birth order and he suggested in his book that the youngest member of a family would be more likely to seek out a career as a recreational therapist.

I regret to say that I have already given away my copy of this book and can’t site the exact book.

I do recall him saying something along the lines that all astronauts were first born with the exception of one who was an only child.

The survey was posted via the ATRA ListServ, my Rec. Therapy Today newsletter, and by facebook.

A total of 123 people had completed the survey.

 Here are the responses:

1.)    What birth order do you associate with being in your family?

·         45 respondents (37%) reported being: eldest child in the family.

·         42 respondents (34%) reported being: baby in the family.

·         21 respondents (17%) reported being: middle child in the family.

·         8 respondents (6%) reported not being able to identify with a position in birth order.

·         7 respondents (5%) reported being: only child

Based on this question alone, the majority were “eldest child (37%),” with a close follow up with “baby in the family 34%).”

2.)    What is your highest level of education? 

b. 69 respondents (56%) reported having: undergraduate degree

c. 34 respondents (28%) reported having: graduate degree

d. 17 respondents (14%) reported having: post-graduate degree.

a. 3 respondents (3%) reported being: current student in undergraduate degree program

 

Based on this question alone, a little over half (56%) reported having an undergraduate degree as their highest level of education.

 

I questioned: what would the results be if those with graduate and post-graduate degrees were not included.  

Based on the 69 respondents who had an undergraduate degree: 

·         25 out of 69 respondents reported to being: eldest in the family.

·         24 out of 69 respondents reported being: baby in the family.

·         10 out of 69 respondents reported being: middle child in the family.

·         6 out of 69 respondents reported: not identifying with any position in birth order.

·         3 out of the 69 respondents reported: being an only child.

 

Based on the 69 respondents who only had a bachelor’s degree, It was still very close (25/69 eldest) and (24/69 youngest).

 

3.)    Please select all answers that apply:

36 out of the 123 respondents:

·         A. Were currently working as a Rec. Therapist;

·         B. Held the CTRS credential; and

·         D. Were an ATRA Member

NOTE: Congratulations on being an ATRA member. My personal bias is that everyone in our field should be members of our national organization. I could assume the rest are members of the Canada Therapeutic Recreation Association (CTRA), right? laugh aloud.

33 out of the 123 respondents:

·         A. Were currently working as a Rec. Therapist

·         B. Held the CTRS credential

14 out of the 123 respondents:

·         B. Currently held the CTRS credential; and

·         D. Were a Member of ATRA

They did not select that they were currently working as a Rec. Therapist.

NOTE: I would assume these individuals are probably working as educators, consultants, trainers. A few of them might be working outside of the field or in a similar field and have decided to maintain their credential and membership.

13 out of the 123 respondents only selected:

·         B. Currently held CTRS credential

They did not select that they were currently working as a Rec. Therapist.

11 out of the 123 respondents only selected:

·         A. Working as a Rec. Therapist (They did not select having the CTRS credential)

5 out of the 123 respondents:

·         Working as a Rec. Therapist; and

·         ATRA Member

NOTE: These individuals did not report having the CTRS credential.

3 out of the 123 respondents:

E. none of the above. They were not working as a Rec. Therapist, did not hold the CTRS credential, were not in a RT/TR degree program, or a member of ATRA. However, these three people decided to take the survey.

2 out of the 123 respondents:

·         Were students in a RT/TR degree program; and were also:

·         ATRA Members!

NOTE: I have a feeling that these two are going places in our field!

2 out of the 123 respondents reported:

·         ATRA Member. They did not select any other choices.