The development and initial validation of the Multicultural Environmental Inventory: a preliminary investigation

Social Identities in Contexts

The five articles comprising the Major Contribution in this issue are synthesized and serve as the foundation of an ecological model for contextualizing multicultural counseling psychology processes. Specifically, the proposed contextual model outlines the recursive influence of individual and systemic factors on multiple subsystems (i.e., macrosystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and microsystem) influencing human behavior. Implications for multicultural training practices that are grounded in the contextual model as well as recent multicultural counseling literature are provided.

Multicultural counseling self-efficacy scale-racial diversity form: factor structure and test of a social cognitive model

This study was conducted to gather evidence on the factor structure and concurrent criterion validity of the multicultural counseling self-efficacy scale-racial diversity form (MCSE-RD; Sheu & Lent, 2007). The MCSE-RD was designed to assess therapists' perceived capabilities in performing culturally relevant in-session behaviors in cross-racial counseling. Participants were 209 students in counseling-related graduate programs in the USA. Confirmatory factor analyses identified a bifactor structure in which responses to MCSE-RD items could be explained by one generic and three multicultural-specific counseling self-efficacy factors. Support was also found for a social cognitive model in which self-efficacy and interests in multicultural counseling mediated the effects of prior cross-racial client contacts and perceptions of multicultural training environments on intent to perform multicultural counseling in the future. Additionally, outcome expectations were predictive of multicultural counseling interests and choice goals. Implications for multicultural training and directions for future research are highlighted.

Multicultural Competency in Research: Examining the Relationships Among Multicultural Competencies, Research Training and Self-Efficacy, and the Multicultural Environment

Research on multicultural competencies has mainly focused on the practice dimension of psychology training and practice. Little theoretical or empirical research has examined multicultural research training and self-efficacy. In this study, 119 psychology graduate students filled out a Web survey focusing on the research training environment, research self-efficacy, multicultural competency, the multicultural environment, and social desirability. Results showed that multicultural competency, research training, and the multicultural environment were related to multicultural research self-efficacy. Hierarchical regressions showed that multicultural competency predicted students' research anxiety; social desirability predicted multicultural research utility, multicultural competency, and the research training environment; and multicultural competency predicted students' confidence in research and perceptions that their graduate training programs were multicultural. Implications are discussed.

What's missing from multicultural competency research: review, introspection, and recommendations

Much of the multicultural counseling research has pointed out the need for counselors to become culturally competent to appropriately address the needs of an emerging diverse community. To date, however, this body of research has largely focused on counselor competencies, with little attention being given to the client perspective of multicultural counseling competencies. This article discusses the importance of integrating the client perspective within the historical context of the multicultural literature by examining client preferences and expectations, as well as the adequacy of the current empirical data. The authors also raise the issue of politics inherent in multiculturalism and discuss how this affects the research. A number of recommendations are made as a guide for future research.

Advancing the Study of Chicana/o Psychology

This comment on the Major Contribution, which identifies current issues in Chicana/o psychology, addresses implications for the practice of psychotherapy and for training. Case examples are provided to illustrate the implications of issues identified in the articles. Identification of some of the challenges of multicultural training, including attending to resistance often evoked in the process of training are included.