Sex-Role Attitudes of Drug Abuse Treatment Counselors

Abstract

This study examined the sex-role attitude of the drug abuse treatment counselor as a function of the sex of the counselor, the sex of the client, and the treatment approach (drug free versus methadone maintenance). Two versions of a stimulus vignette depicting a typical client, identical except for the sex of the client, were developed. Counselors rated this hypothetical client on an author developed Attitude Toward Addiction Scale. Findings indicated that: 1) male counselors viewed clients of both sexes more negatively than did female counselors; 2) male clients were viewed more negatively than female clients by counselors of both sexes; 3) counselors in drug free treatment programs viewed clients more negatively than did counselors in methadone maintenance programs; and 4) counselors with less education had more negative attitudes.

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