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Client Predictors of Short‐Term Psychotherapy Outcomes Among Asian and White American Outpatients
Author(s) -
Kim Jin E.,
Zane Nolan W.,
Blozis Shelley A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.21905
Subject(s) - psychology , psychosocial , coping (psychology) , clinical psychology , ethnic group , psychotherapist , sociology , anthropology
Purpose To examine predictors of psychotherapy outcomes, focusing on client characteristics that are especially salient for culturally diverse clients. Method Sixty clients (31 women; 27 White Americans, 33 Asian Americans) participated in this treatment study. Client characteristics were measured at pretreatment, and outcomes were measured postfourth session via therapist ratings of functioning and symptomatology. Regression analyses were utilized to test for predictors of outcomes, and bootstrap analyses were utilized to test for mediators. Results Higher levels of somatic symptoms predicted lower psychosocial functioning at posttreatment. Avoidant coping style predicted more negative symptoms and more psychological discomfort. Non‐English language preference predicted worse outcomes; this effect was mediated by an avoidant coping style. Conclusions Language preference, avoidant coping style, and somatic symptoms predicted treatment outcome in a culturally diverse sample. Findings suggest that race/ethnicity‐related variables may function through mediating proximal variables to affect outcomes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Clin. Psychol. 00:1–16, 2012.