The Effects of an Online Training on Cultural Competence, Acknowledgment of White Privilege, Ethnocultural Empathy, and Racial Attitudes in White College Students

ABSTRACT The current study examined the short‐ and long‐term efficacy of a cultural competence training aimed to help White college students understand structural discrimination, acknowledge their racial privilege, and understand and accept others' viewpoints and experiences. White students at a predominantly White US university ( n = 112) completed a 3‐h online cultural competence training, or a control exercise administered over a 3‐week period. The training provided information about constructs related to prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination; promoted awareness of privilege and oppression; and provided skills for effective cross‐racial interactions. Results showed the cultural competence training afforded short‐term improvement in participants' cultural competence, increases in their acknowledgment of White privilege, and increases in ethnocultural empathy for participants in the experimental condition. Latent linear growth models demonstrated improvements in cultural competence and acknowledgment of White privilege through two follow‐up posttests. There were no changes in explicit and implicit racial attitudes. Implications of these findings for the future design and application of these types of training programs are discussed.