American Indian Secondary School Students' Preferences for Counselors

Abstract

Researchers examined the importance of similar ethnicity and the preference for a counselor of the same sex among American Indian secondary school students.

Cultural Commitment and the Counseling Preferences and Counselor Perceptions of Native American Women

“…Our findings are also consistent with other research that found that higher levels of commitment to Native American culture are associated with even stronger preferences for a counselor of the same sex (Wetsit, 1992) and ethnicity (Johnson & Lashley, 1989). Our results for women living on a reservation also match studies of Native American college students that found an overall preference for counselors of the same ethnicity (BigFoot-Sipes et al, 1992;Haviland et al, 1983). However, Bennett and BigFoot-Sipes (1991) found that female students had no strong preference for counselor sex or ethnicity match, regardless of problem type or cultural commitment.…”

Mental Health Service and Provider Preference among American Indians with Type 2 Diabetes

“…This finding mirrors prior literature (BigFoot-Sipes et al, 1992). Significant differences in provider gender preference also were seen for those with and without anxiety.…”

“…More participants living on reservation, and more of those with higher traditional spirituality, preferred a Native provider should they need to use one. This finding mirrors research among AI/AN college students; those who had stronger Indigenous cultural affiliation preferred counselors who shared similar cultural attitudes and values (Bennett & BigFoot-Sipes, 1991; BigFoot-Sipes et al, 1992; Johnson & Lashley, 1989; Stewart et al, 2013). After controlling for other factors, higher participation in spiritual activities had a non-significant odds of 1.15, while living on reservation was associated with 2.99 times higher odds of preferring a Native provider.…”

“…Indeed, other studies have shown that cultural factors strengthen the preference for racial/ethnic concordance (Coleman et al, 1995; Helms & Carter, 1991; Sanchez & Atkinson, 1983). In a study with AI/AN college students, participants indicated a preference for a psychotherapist with attitudes and values that matched their own; this finding was particularly true for individuals with a stronger sense of cultural involvement (Bennett & BigFoot-Sipes, 1991; BigFoot-Sipes, Dauphinais, LaFromboise, Bennett, & Rowe, 1992). AN college students demonstrated a stronger preference for a provider with a similar ethnicity compared to Caucasian students (Stewart et al, 2013).…”

“…Like race/ethnicity preference, gender preference may correlate with presumed similarities of gender concordant psychotherapists. AI/AN female college students strongly preferred a female AI/AN psychotherapist (BigFoot-Sipes et al, 1992). …”