Defense Date

10-13-2005

Graduation Date

Fall 2005

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Counselor Education and Supervision (ExCES)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

William J. Casile

Committee Member

Allen Cornelius

Committee Member

Emma C. Mosley

Committee Member

Ronald G. Brown

Keywords

Athletes, Guidance Counseling, High School, Student Athletes

Abstract

This study compared the self-reported multicultural sports counseling competencies of professional school counselors and Play It Smart academic coaches. Specifically, the study explored the differences in multicultural awareness, multicultural counseling knowledge, multicultural counseling skills, and the multicultural counseling relationship among professionals who provide counseling services to high school student athletes. Defining culture inclusively allows the extension of the definition of multicultural counseling to include the student athlete population. This study compared the multicultural sports counseling competencies of professional school counselors and academic coaches affiliated with high schools throughout the United States that utilize the National Football Foundation's Play It Smart Program. The participants of this study were deliberately sampled and included professional school counselors (n=26), Play It Smart academic coaches with counseling degrees (n=9), and Play It Smart academic coaches without counseling degrees (n=62). The participants in the study completed a demographic questionnaire, the Multicultural Sports Counseling Inventory (MCSCI), and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Form C) (MC-SDS Form C). The MCSCI assessed individuals' behavior and attitudes regarding the four multicultural counseling competency factors. The MC-SDS was used to measure social desirability responding. This study was designed to provide a foundation of research that connects multicultural counseling competencies, school counseling, and the student athlete population. The results from this study may provide a preliminary base to inform counseling professionals who provide services to and interact with culturally diverse students, specifically student athletes. Additionally, counselor educators and counselors in training can use these results to develop affirming attitudes and behaviors towards student athletes and to develop culturally sensitive intervention strategies designed to respond to the unique needs of student athletes. Moreover, the information gained from this study may directly help Play It Smart and other programs designed to enhance the development of student athletes by clarifying the relationship between multicultural awareness, multicultural counseling knowledge, multicultural counseling skills, and the multicultural counseling relationship to this specific population.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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