Gender and sexuality alliance advisors' perceptions of self‐efficacy and social emotional competency: An exploratory study

The presence of a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) reduces risk for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth across a variety of domains, but little is known about the adult advisor‐level variables contributing to these observed benefits. This study explored relationships between advisors' tenure, receipt of professional development, self‐efficacy, and social emotional competencies (SECs). Participants ( N = 167) completed an online survey measuring their own social‐emotional competencies and their perceived self‐efficacy as a GSA advisor. As hypothesized, results demonstrated relationships between advisor tenure and self‐efficacy and between advisor receipt of professional development and self‐efficacy. Further, advisor SEC significantly predicted self‐efficacy, and both receipt of professional development and SEC positively predicted perceived self‐efficacy, as well. Findings point to opportunities for providing training to GSA advisors, with a focus on SEC to increase their efficacy in working with SGM youth. Implications for school psychologists are discussed.