Attributes, Attitudes, and Perceived Self-Efficacy Levels of School Counselors Toward Poverty

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between school counselors’ attitudes, attributes, and self-efficacy levels while working with individuals living in poverty. The study used quantitative measures and qualitative questions to examine school counselors’ attitudes and attributes toward working with individuals in poverty and used regression analyses to assess the relationship between school counselors’ self-efficacy levels and attitude and attributes toward individuals living in poverty. Active school counselors were recruited for participation in this study. Results of the study indicated that school counselors held individualistic attitudes toward individuals living in poverty and ascribed the cause of poverty to fatalistic attributions. Additionally, counselors’ attitudes were found to be indicative of their self-efficacy levels.