Papers by Timothy B. Smith
Integration or separation? Addressing religious and spiritual issues in multicultural counseling: A national survey of college counselors, 2019
Given contemporary ethical concerns, we conducted a national survey of 216 college counselors’ pe... more Given contemporary ethical concerns, we conducted a national survey of 216 college counselors’ perceptions of integrating religious and spiritual issues in multicultural counseling and counselor education. Using cluster analysis, we identified four patterns of commitments to multiculturalism and religiosity. Respondents demonstrated ethical bracketing, as they considered religious and spiritual issues favorably within the framework of multicultural counseling, irrespective of their personal commitments to those topics. Counselors can openly address spiritual and religious diversity.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
From the individual to individualism: A critique of the helping professions, 2003
Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental he... more Individualistic values characterize contemporary society and many popular approaches to mental health treatment. This paper critiques the individualistic values embedded in the helping professions that implicitly contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ, the surest foundation for mental health interventions. Members of AMCAP are encouraged to search out and replace other problematic values that contradict gospel teachings but that have been integrated into contemporary mental health practice.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
An evaluation of the clinical utility of the college adjustment scales, 1997
Comparisons of College Adjustment Scales (CAS) profiles with interview data from 748 clients gene... more Comparisons of College Adjustment Scales (CAS) profiles with interview data from 748 clients generally supported the clinical usefulness of the CAS, although further refinements appear warranted.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Reliability generalization of the multigroup ethnic identity measure - revised, 2016
Individuals’ strength of ethnic identity has been linked with multiple positive indicators, inclu... more Individuals’ strength of ethnic identity has been linked with multiple positive indicators, including academic achievement and overall psychological well-being. The measure researchers use most often to assess ethnic identity, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), underwent substantial revision in 2007. To inform scholars investigating ethnic identity, a reliability generalization analysis was performed on data from the revised version (MEIM–R) and compared with data from the original MEIM. Random-effects weighted models evaluated internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha). Reliability coefficients for the MEIM–R averaged α = .88 across 37 samples, a statistically significant increase over the average of α = .84 for the MEIM across 75 studies. Reliability coefficients for the MEIM–R did not differ across study and participant characteristics such as sample gender and ethnic composition. However, consistently lower reliability coefficients averaging α = .81 were found among participants with low levels of education, suggesting that greater attention to data reliability is warranted when evaluating the ethnic identity of individuals such as middle-school students. Future research will be needed to ascertain if data with other measures of aspects of personal identity (e.g., racial identity, gender identity) also differ as a function of participant level of education and associated cognitive/maturation processes.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Beyond English only: Addressing language interpretation in professional psychology training, 2019
Professional guidelines direct that psychologists working with clients with limited English profi... more Professional guidelines direct that psychologists working with clients with limited English proficiency should involve an interpreter if a mental health professional fluent in the client’s language is unavailable. However, complexities of interpreted therapy require training. We describe nine relevant areas of trainee skill acquisition and also surveyed 102 multicultural course instructors in APA-accredited psychology programs regarding current professional training. Only 55 (54%) instructors reported providing any training on working with language interpreters, with 16 (16%) providing more than 2 hours of training. Instructors ranked nine proposed skill areas and gave recommendations for overcoming barriers and working with interpreters to assist clients with limited English proficiency. The proposed areas of professional competence provide starting points for therapists learning the complexities of interpreted therapy.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Religion and racism: An examination of values and racial attitudes, 1996
Throughout history, both the oppression and emancipation of racial and ethnic groups have often b... more Throughout history, both the oppression and emancipation of racial and ethnic groups have often been conducted under the influence of religion. Contemporary research, often marked by contradictions itself, has also made note of this complex issue. To examine further the association of religious variables with racial attitudes and personal values, data were collected from 752 subjects. The results lent support to the hypothesis that when examining racial attitudes, religious affiliation is a less meaningful variable than the importance of spirituality in the lives of individuals; also, two values historically associated with religion, Humanitarianism and the "Protestant work ethic" were moderately associated with subjects' racial attitudes.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Racial attitudes of White English and Afrikaans speaking South African adolescence , 1999
Differences in racial attitudes were examined between 327 White English-speaking and 103 White Af... more Differences in racial attitudes were examined between 327 White English-speaking and 103 White Afrikaans-speaking South African adolescents. The English sample was less likely to endorse prejudicial beliefs than the Afrikaans speakers. However, the Afrikaans speakers were much more willing to take responsibility for the wrongs of the Apartheid past and extend political rights to Black South Africans
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Acculturation to Western society as a risk factor for high blood pressure: A meta-analytic review, 2006
A number of studies have documented that acculturation to Western society is related to an increa... more A number of studies have documented that acculturation to Western society is related to an increase in blood pressure. Although there is evidence that higher socioeconomic status appears related to better cardiovascular health, increasing acculturation to Western society appears related to worse cardiovascular health. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association between acculturation and blood pressure.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Ethnic identity and personal well-being of people of color: A meta-analysis, 2011
This article summarizes research examining the relationship between the constructs of ethnic iden... more This article summarizes research examining the relationship between the constructs of ethnic identity and personal well-being among people of color in North America. Data from 184 studies analyzed with random effects models yielded an omnibus effect size of r .17, suggesting a modest relationship between the 2 constructs. The relationship was somewhat stronger among adolescents and young adults than among adults over age 40. No differences were observed across participant race, gender, or socioeconomic status, which findings support the general relevance of ethnic identity across people of color. Studies correlating ethnic identity with self-esteem and positive well-being yielded average effect sizes twice as large as those from studies correlating ethnic identity with personal distress or mental health symptoms. Ethnic identity was thus more strongly related to positive well-being than to compromised well-being. Overall, the corpus of research reviewed consisted of correlational designs; limited scholarship has addressed causal mechanisms, mediating factors, or psychological functions of ethnic identity across different social contexts.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Racial/ethnic matching of clients and therapists in mental health services: A meta-analytic review of preferences, perceptions, and outcomes, 2011
Across several decades the effects of matching clients with therapists of the same race/ethnicity... more Across several decades the effects of matching clients with therapists of the same race/ethnicity have been explored using a variety of approaches. We conducted a meta-analysis of 3 variables frequently used in research on racial/ethnic matching: individuals' preferences for a therapist of their own race/ethnicity, clients' perceptions of therapists across racial/ethnic match, and therapeutic outcomes across racial/ethnic match. Across 52 studies of preferences, the average effect size (Cohen's d) was 0.63, indicating a moderately strong preference for a therapist of one's own race/ethnicity. Across 81 studies of individuals' perceptions of therapists, the average effect size was 0.32, indicating a tendency to perceive therapists of one's own race/ethnicity somewhat more positively than other therapists. Across 53 studies of client outcomes in mental health treatment, the average effect size was 0.09, indicating almost no benefit to treatment outcomes from racial/ethnic matching of clients with therapists. These 3 averaged effect sizes were characterized by substantial heterogeneity: The effects of racial/ethnic matching are highly variable. Studies involving African American participants demonstrated the highest effect sizes across all 3 types of evaluations: preferences, perceptions, and outcomes.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Addressing religious and spiritual diversity in graduate training and multicultural education for professional psychologists, 2012
Professional counselors completed a survey assessing their attitudes regarding inclusion of clien... more Professional counselors completed a survey assessing their attitudes regarding inclusion of client spiritual and religious issues into multicultural training and practice. Most respondents agreed that spiritual and religious issues should be included in counselor training and that this content could be integrated successfully into existing instruction regarding multicultural counseling.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Psychotherapy utilization and presenting concerns among Polynesian American college students, 2016
In this study, we examined psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, reported distress leve... more In this study, we examined psychotherapy utilization, presenting concerns, reported distress levels, and psychotherapy outcomes among Polynesian American students presenting for services at a counseling center. We collected data at intake, during therapy sessions, and at termination for 415 Polynesian American and 18,117 European American students over a 17-year period. Polynesian American students were equally likely to utilize counseling services as European American students but were more likely to drop out earlier. At intake, these students reported higher numbers of presenting concerns and greater levels of emotional and psychological distress than European American students. Polynesian American students reported significantly higher scores on racial discrimination, physical abuse, and family dependence. Implications for counseling center programs and services are discussed.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Life's lessons: Reflections on a disciple scholar, 2017
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
International student support groups: Learning from experienced group members and leaders, 2018
A multisite qualitative study investigated the experiences of six group leaders and 10 group memb... more A multisite qualitative study investigated the experiences of six group leaders and 10 group members who participated in seven different university counseling center international student support groups. Analyses of interview data using herme-neutic interpretation resulted in nine major themes and 10 subthemes organized into four sections: (a) recruitment and group design, (b) experiences of group members, (c) experiences of group leaders, and (d) additional considerations.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Cultural adaptations and therapist multicultural competence: Two meta-analytic reviews, 2018
Mental health treatments can be more effective when they align with the culture of the client and... more Mental health treatments can be more effective when they align with the culture of the client and when therapists demonstrate multicultural competence. We summarize relevant research findings in two meta-analyses. In the meta-analysis examining culturally adapted interventions, the average effect size across 99 studies was d = 0.50 (0.35 after accounting for publication bias). In the second meta-analysis on 15 studies of therapist cultural competence , the results differed by rating source: Client-rated measures of therapist cultural competence correlated strongly (r = 0.38) with treatment outcomes but therapists' self-rated competency did not (r = 0.06). We describe patient considerations and research limitations. We conclude with research supported therapeutic practices that help clients benefit from modifications to treatment related to culture. K E Y W O R D S cultural adaptations, meta-analysis, multicultural competencies, multicultural psychotherapy, treatment adaptations
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Social relationships benefit not only mental health but also physical health. This review address... more Social relationships benefit not only mental health but also physical health. This review addresses the following questions: (1) What is the overall magnitude of the effect of social relationships on risk for premature death? (2) How generalized is the effect and are there factors known to influence this association? (3) What are the likely pathways by which social relationships influence lon-gevity? The article concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for potential interventions aimed at reducing risk for mortality.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Although a large body of literature exists supporting the relationship between positive parenting... more Although a large body of literature exists supporting the relationship between positive parenting and child outcomes for typically developing children, there are reasons to analyze separately the relevant literature specific to children with disabilities. However, that literature has not been synthesized in any systematic review. Consequently, this study examined the association between positive parenting attributes and outcomes of young children with developmental disabilities through meta-analytic aggregation of effect sizes across 14 studies. The random effects weighted average effect size was r = .22 (SE = .06, p < .001), indicative of a moderate association between positive parenting attributes and child outcomes. Publication bias did not appear to be a substantial threat to the results. There was a trend for studies with more mature parents to have effect sizes of higher magnitude than studies with young parents. The results provide support for efforts to evaluate and promote effective parenting skills when providing services for young children with disabilities.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Objectives: The current objective was to compare Hispanic mortality rates to those of other raci... more Objectives: The current objective was to compare Hispanic mortality rates to those of other racial/ethnic groups in order to investigate the possibility of a Hispanic mortality advantage.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published longitudinal literature reporting Hispanic individuals’ mortality of any cause compared with that of any other racial/ethnic group.
Results: Across 58 studies (4,615,747 participants), the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 0.825 (P < .001, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.91), corresponding to a 17.5% lower risk of mortality among Hispanic populations compared to other racial groups. The difference in mortality risk tended to be greater among older populations and varied as a function of pre-existing health condition, with effects apparent for initially healthy samples and for those with cardiovascular diseases. The results also differed by racial group comparison: Hispanics had lower overall risk for mortality than non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, but overall higher risk for mortality than Asian Americans.
Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a small Hispanic mortality advantage, with implications for conceptualizing and addressing racial/ethnic health disparities.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Previous research has shown that Latino/a middle school students exhibiting emotional or behavior... more Previous research has shown that Latino/a middle school students exhibiting emotional or behavioral disturbance are at risk for undesirable academic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions and experiences of at-risk Latino/a students to identify ways to improve interventions targeted to promote their academic retention and success. Participants included 11 Latino/a students between the ages of 11 and 13 years, 8 males and 3 females, who were screened as being at risk for behavior disorders using the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD). These students shared their perceptions and experiences of schooling during in-depth qualitative interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to understand how these students made sense of their school experiences. Students' descriptions tended to be contextualized within relationships with peers, teachers, and family members. Many students shared experiences of being the target of overt racism and microaggressions from peers. Students believed they were more likely to be successful in school when teachers displayed flexibility with deadlines, provided extra help, and communicated a sense of warmth and caring. The data from this study suggested that school psychologists can benefit from attending to at-risk students' perceptions, which, in the context of this study, would require facilitating an inclusive school climate, fostering effective teacher and student relationships, and facilitating parent–teacher relationships during the difficult transition from elementary to middle school.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Uploads
Papers by Timothy B. Smith
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published longitudinal literature reporting Hispanic individuals’ mortality of any cause compared with that of any other racial/ethnic group.
Results: Across 58 studies (4,615,747 participants), the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 0.825 (P < .001, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.91), corresponding to a 17.5% lower risk of mortality among Hispanic populations compared to other racial groups. The difference in mortality risk tended to be greater among older populations and varied as a function of pre-existing health condition, with effects apparent for initially healthy samples and for those with cardiovascular diseases. The results also differed by racial group comparison: Hispanics had lower overall risk for mortality than non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, but overall higher risk for mortality than Asian Americans.
Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a small Hispanic mortality advantage, with implications for conceptualizing and addressing racial/ethnic health disparities.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published longitudinal literature reporting Hispanic individuals’ mortality of any cause compared with that of any other racial/ethnic group.
Results: Across 58 studies (4,615,747 participants), the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 0.825 (P < .001, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.91), corresponding to a 17.5% lower risk of mortality among Hispanic populations compared to other racial groups. The difference in mortality risk tended to be greater among older populations and varied as a function of pre-existing health condition, with effects apparent for initially healthy samples and for those with cardiovascular diseases. The results also differed by racial group comparison: Hispanics had lower overall risk for mortality than non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, but overall higher risk for mortality than Asian Americans.
Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of a small Hispanic mortality advantage, with implications for conceptualizing and addressing racial/ethnic health disparities.