posted on 2025-05-10, 21:30authored byRikeya Constable
To date, no research has assessed Australian mental health professionals’ affirmative competence to work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clients. The aim of the current study was to understand how sociodemographic variables predict affirmative competence. It examined the relationship between competence and self-reported confidence for working with LGBT clients. In this cross-sectional study participants (N = 90) responded to a sociodemographic questionnaire, a self-rated affirmative competence measure, an open-ended affirmative competence questionnaire and clinical vignette, to measure demonstrated competency of clinical skills. Results indicated that factors such as age and experience with LGBT clients was associated with better performance on the self-rated competency measure. Self-identification as LGBT and experience with LGBT clients was associated with greater demonstrated competency according to the open-ended affirmative competency measure. Higher perceived confidence was associated with greater self-rated competency but not demonstrated competence. No participant characteristics were associated with better performance on the clinical vignette. The implication of the research findings and limitations are discussed.