J Evid Based Soc Work (2019). 2026 Feb 1:1-27. doi: 10.1080/26408066.2026.2623443. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionately worse mental health outcomes, partially due to a lack of culturally responsive practices and multicultural counseling self-efficacy among behavioral health professionals. Separately, professional quality of life (ProQOL) has also been linked to better client outcomes. However, little is known about the relationship between behavioral health professionals’ multicultural counseling self-efficacy, culturally competent behaviors, and ProQOL. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cultural competence and ProQOL, as well as a hypothesized indirect role of multi-cultural counseling self-efficacy among these associations.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected from a workforce training program among graduate level social work, psychology, and nursing students on culturally responsive practices whose practicum settings included working with BIPOC/LGBTQ+ youth. At baseline (T1), graduation (T2), and 9-months post-graduation (T3), participants (N = 113) completed measures on anti-racism, self-reflection and insight, intercultural communication, multicultural counseling self-efficacy, and ProQOL (compassion satisfaction, burnout, secondary trauma).
RESULTS: Intercultural communication at T2 had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between multicultural counseling self-efficacy at T2 and burnout at T3. Self-reflection and insight at T2 also had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between multicultural counseling self-efficacy at T2 and burnout at T3. Mediation models examining secondary traumatic stress and compassion satisfaction were not statistically significant.
DISCUSSION: Results suggest the importance of cultural competencies and multicultural counseling self-efficacy in facilitating culturally responsive practices and promoting clinicians’ ProQOL.
CONCLUSION: Future trainings should emphasize these areas to minimize mental health disparities among LGBTQ+ and BIPOC youth.
PMID:41620841 | DOI:10.1080/26408066.2026.2623443
