An Investigation of Therapist Gender in the Intake Evaluation of Male and Female Clients at College Counseling Centers
Year: 2012
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The current study examined gender as a potential contributing factor in the increase in psychopathology at college counseling centers. As university and college counseling centers are moving away from a developmental model and toward the medical model, the effect of gender and the increased use of the DSM-IVTR could influence the perception in an increase of psychopathology by mirroring DSM-IVTR base rates. This study attempted to discover if gender influenced therapists to diagnosed depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and adjustment disorders differently amongst the male and female clients. Results indicated that neither male therapists nor female therapists diagnosed depression, substance abuse disorder, and adjustment disorders in male and female clients differently during their intake sessions. However, there were statistically significant findings for female therapists as they were more likely to diagnose female clients with an anxiety disorder compared to male therapists. The finally hypothesis revealed a significant effect between the client's gender on the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) score assigned. The mean GAF of male clients was 68 compared to female clients with a GAF rating of 66.
Author: Harry Pitsikalis
Institution: Wright State University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2528160513