Date of Graduation
2010
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
Multicultural counseling education in graduate programs is an essential component of clinical training. The exploration of racial identity attitudes and color-blind racial attitudes are starting to become increasingly integrated into multicultural training. The sub-fields of counseling, counseling psychology, and clinical psychology programs have different histories and unique professional identities that set them apart from one another. Limited research exists that explores whether multicultural training differs according to type of graduate training program. The current study examined differences in self-reported multicultural competencies, racial identity development, and color-blind racial attitudes across mental health sub-disciplines. Social desirability was used as a control measure. White graduate students in counseling, counseling psychology, and clinical psychology were asked to participate in this study. In a sample of 156 graduate students, the researcher found that counseling students reported higher multicultural knowledge than clinical psychology students. No significant differences across groups were found in racial identity attitudes, color-blind racial attitudes, and multicultural awareness. Data analysis also revealed significant, strong associations between racial identity attitudes, multicultural knowledge and awareness, and color-blind racial attitudes. Additional analyses found that participants who responded in a socially desirable manner also tended to endorse greater unawareness of racial privilege. Implications for clinical practice and training were discussed as well as suggestions for future research.
Recommended Citation
Strait, Jacquelyn Monique, "Multicultural Counseling Competencies, White Racial Identity Development, and Color-Blind Racial Attitudes: Differences Across Mental Health Sub-Disciplines." (2010). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 9845.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/9845