V. Paul Poteat

Predicting Psychosocial Consequences of Homophobic Victimization in Middle School Students.

This investigation examined the extent to which homophobic victimization predicted multiple indicators of psychological and social distress for middle school students (n = 143) during a 1-year assessment period. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that homophobic victimization significantly predicted increased anxiety and depression, personal distress, and lower sense of school belonging in males and higher levels of withdrawal in females after controlling for previously reported levels of each variable. Results suggest that being the target of homophobic victimization has significant psychological and social consequences for students, although differentially for males and females. Although use of such content may occur within peer groups and appear to be harmless banter between friends, teachers and administrators should intervene during these occurrences, and school policies and programming should specifically address and seek to decrease this social problem.

Exploring the relation between bullying and homophobic verbal content: the homophobic content agent target (HCAT) scale.

This investigation quantitatively examines the association among homophobic content, bullying, victimization, empathy, and several psychosocial outcomes of these constructs. The 2-factor Homophobic Content Agent Target (HCAT) scale was developed and validated among 191 middle school students to assess the extent to which students both use and are called various epithets in reference to sexual orientation. Cronbach reliability coefficients of alpha = .85 were obtained for both factors. Convergent validity was demonstrated with scales measuring bullying, fighting, victimization, relational aggression and victimization, anxiety and depression, and delinquency. Discriminant validity was demonstrated in comparison with school sense of belonging, empathy, and perspective-taking. Discriminative validity was demonstrated through sex differences on several scales. Results strongly suggest that homophobic content is prevalent in various forms of aggression and victimization, and that future research should examine the role of homophobia in bullying and victimization in schools.

Victimization, Social Support, and Psychosocial Functioning Among Children of Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Couples in the United Kingdom

To further develop an understanding of psychological and social functioning of children raised by lesbian couples, the authors compared 18 students ages 12-16 raised in families led by female same-sex couples, who were identified from a large school-based survey, with 18 matched students raised by opposite-sex couples and the general student sample. Comparisons were made on factors including victimization, social support, and psychological functioning. Results indicate that those students raised by female same-sex couples did not differ significantly from those raised by opposite-sex couples or the general student sample in terms of reports of victimization, psychological functioning, experience of common adolescent concerns, or prospective use of support outlets provided by family and peers. However, children of same-sex couples reported significantly less likelihood of using school-based support than did children of opposite-sex couples or the general student sample. Findings indicate the need for school administrators, teachers, and psychologists to be knowledgeable of and provide appropriate support and resources for these children. Additional implications for research and application are discussed.

Psychosocial Costs of Racism to Whites: Exploring Patterns Through Cluster Analysis

Participants (230 White college students) completed the Psychosocial Costs of Racism to Whites (PCRW) Scale. Using cluster analysis, we identified 5 distinct cluster groups on the basis of PCRW subscale scores: the unempathic and unaware cluster contained the lowest empathy scores; the insensitive and afraid cluster consisted of low empathy and guilt scores, with the highest score on fear; the fearful guilt cluster exhibited elevations on guilt and fear; the empathic but unaccountable cluster reflected high empathy with low guilt and fear; and the informed empathy and guilt cluster represented those high on empathy and guilt in conjunction with low levels of fear. Groups were validated on an additional sample (n = 366) and were found to differ significantly on theoretically related measures.

Moving Beyond Complacency to Commitment Multicultural Research in Counseling Psychology

This reaction addresses the Major Contribution related to multicultural research in counseling psychology. Although the three articles composing the Major Contribution have different foci and may be viewed independently, an implicit proposal inherent within each is the call to move beyond complacency to commitment, a phrase devised by Carter, Akinsulure-Smith, Smailes, and Clauss (1998) in their literature review of multicultural research in several counseling psychology journals. Carter et al. suggested that investigators address whether multiculturally focused research adds new knowledge about racial and ethnic minorities to the counseling psychology literature, thus moving the field forward (i.e., showing commitment), or simply reiterates the status quo (i.e., remains complacent). We highlight aspects of this theme that are common throughout the Major Contribution in addition to providing our critique and comments specific to each. As multicultural leaders (Parham, 2001; Sue, 2003, 2005) have asserted, we concur that investigating the psyche of the imposer (i.e., Whites) is essential to understand, address, and ultimately dismantle racism. Hence, our conceptual and empirical research centers on how White individuals react to and are affected by racism and other racial issues, such as Whites’experiences of the psychosocial costs of racism, which will be defined. Accordingly, we focus on the meaning and implications for White counseling psychologists and trainees.

Further Validation of the Psychosocial Costs of Racism to Whites Scale Among Employed Adults

To examine the validity and test the generalizability of the Psychosocial Costs of Racism to Whites Scale (PCRW) beyond the original college student sample, a geographically dispersed sample of employed White adults (N = 284) in eight states completed the measure to assess for White empathic reactions toward racism, White guilt, and White fear of people of other races. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure, and a test of factorial invariance for the adult sample data compared against the original college-student sample data suggested the need for further refinement and conceptualization of White guilt among employed adults. Convergent validity was documented with indicators of color-blind racial beliefs and openness to diversity. Finally, significant interaction effects between sample (community or college) and sex (male or female) on reported levels of costs were identified.