Development of an instrument of psychosocial adjustment of professional counselors-in-training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial adjustment of professional counselors-in-training. The current study entailed the creation of a measure of psychosocial adjustment. The total sample consisted of 390 participants. The majority of the participants were female (90.9%). Additionally, all of the participants were sample from CACREP master's counseling programs across the US. This study employed multivariate correlational methods. Specifically, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was utilized to explore for a latent factor structure underlying the measure. Data were collected via online questionnaires. The psychosocial adjustment measure, called Psychosocial Adjustment of Counselors-in-Training Scale (PACTS), demonstrated strong psychometric properties with a clear factor structure and high internal consistency (>.70). The latent factors discovered from the EFA were, (1) stress management, (2) interpersonal skills, (3) family support, (4) healthy lifestyle, and (5) graduate program support. Additionally, the PACTS factors were examined to see if self-presentation bias had an influence on participants' responses through adapting the Marlow-Crowne Social Desirability Scale Form X1. There was a low degree of self-presentation bias in relation with the five factors and the full scale score. Implications and recommendations for future research, applications, and theory are discussed as well as limitations of the study. Replications with other counseling trainees would be useful to confirm the factor structure and the overall measure.