The effects of client-provider racial/ethnic match and non-match on visitation and clinical outcomes

Employing the Multicultural Assessment-Intervention Process (MAIP) Model as a guiding framework, the present study investigated the effects of racial/ethnic client-provider match and non-match on mental health services among White Americans, Asian Americans, and Latino/a Americans. The primary objective of the investigation was to examine the effects of treatment outcome differences among racially/ethnically matched and non-matched client and provider dyads. More specifically, this study extended the line of research on matching by analyzing the various combinations of non-match conditions on treatment outcomes. Archival data from a community mental health agency was utilized. The total sample of 419 included White American (40%), Asian American (21%), and Latino/a American (39%) outpatient clients. Three treatment outcome variables were examined: (a) Visitation, (b) Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and (c) Treatment Goals. Results indicated that racially/ethnically matched Asian American clients achieved more positive treatment outcomes than their non-matched counterpart. No significant matching effects were found for White American and Latino/a American clients. In addition, analyses across the non-match conditions did not yield significant differences on treatment outcomes. Implications of these findings to community mental health practice are discussed.