Attitudes of Counselor Trainees Toward Minority Clients

ABSTRACT

One hundred five counselor trainees were surveyed to determine their attitudes toward ethnic and non-ethnic minorities. The findings suggested that these counseling students hold positive attitudes toward ethnic minorities, somewhat negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians, and moral development levels typical of college populations. Multiple regression analyses found that the level of moral development was positively related to attitudes toward gays and lesbians, but not toward ethnics.

As compared to counselor trainees surveyed one decade earlier (McDermott & Stadler, 1988), these trainees exhibited less homophobia. The relationship of moral development and attitudes toward ethnic minorities was also found to have diminished.