The influence of identity development on multicultural counselling competencies of counsellor trainees

This study investigated the influence of the phases of identity development as identified by the Optimal Theory Applied to Identity Development (OTAID) framework on multicultural counselling competencies among the counsellor trainees in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak. This proposed research utilized correlational research design. 93 counsellor trainees were recruited for data collection by using purposive sampling. Three instruments were implemented in this study, which are Self-Identity Inventory (SII), Multicultural Awareness/ Knowledge/ Skills Survey (MAKSS), and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale- Short (MCSDS-S). SII was used to measure the phases of identity development, which are Individuation, Dissonance, Immersion, Internalization, Integration, and Transformation. MAKSS was utilized to measure self-perceived multicultural counselling competencies from 3 dimensions, which are Multicultural Awareness, Multicultural Knowledge, and Multicultural Skills. While MCSDS-S was used as measure for social desirability. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson Coefficient Correlation and Multiple Regression. The findings revealed that there is no relationship between identity development and multicultural counselling competencies. Likewise, no significant influence was found between identity development and multicultural counselling competencies. Among the six phases of identity development, the phase of Integration was a sole predictor of counsellor trainee’s perceived Multicultural Awareness and Multicultural Knowledge. Integration is positively correlated with Multicultural Awareness, with r(93)=0.25, p=0.02. Integration is also positively correlated with Multicultural Knowledge, with r(93)=0.25, p=0.02. Moreover, Integration predicted 6% of Multicultural Awareness, with F(1.92)=6.04, R2 =0.06, p<0.05. Integration also predicted 6% of Multicultural Knowledge, with F(1.92)=6.19, R2=0.06, p<0.05. While Multicultural Skills did not predict by any phase of identity development, for no significant influence of identity development was found on Multicultural Skills. The researcher suggested that training and supervision that involve immersion with people from diverse background to be considered in promoting multicultural counselling competencies of counsellor trainees. Further studies are encouraged to explore the significant factors that contribute to multicultural counselling competencies.