Gender role attitudes of counselor and psychologist trainees

In this study, it was aimed to determine the gender roles and sexism attitudes of counselor and psychologist candidates at the undergraduate level and to determine their views on how these gender roles will affect their professional services. For this purpose, in this mixed study research, data were collected from 465 undergraduate students by using the Gender Role Attitude Scale and the Ambivalent Sexism Scale. Qualitative data were obtained by a semi-structured interview. In the analysis of quantitative data, t-test and ANOVA were used, and the qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean score of Gender Role Attitude and ambivalent sexism of female and male students (p <.05). The difference between the mean scores according to grade level was not significant (p> .05). Another finding revealed that the hostile and benevolent sexism scores of the students of the psychology department are lower. The qualitative data were thematised as "gender preference, assumptions regarding mental health professionals, assumptions related to the client, mental health professionals' interventions, mental health professionals' needs." As a result, the findings of the study show that, as a candidate for mental health professionals, students need to reduce their sexist attitudes, support an egalitarian understanding, develop their awareness of gender equality and develop skills accordingly. In this respect, suggestions were made to researchers and related undergraduate programs by using the literature.