It is necessary to develop cultural competence of social work students because of
increasing social worker’s intervention for multicultural families. This study aimed to
investigate the factor that promote social worker students' cultural competence. The
mediating effect of cultural sensitivity was especially analysed in order to determine the
relationship between cultural encounter/experiences and cultural competence of social
worker students. The 320 questionnaires were completed and returned by students who
major in social welfare in college and university. The factors were tested using regression
method.
In conclusion, first, as cultural encounter/experiencing was higher, cultural competence
and cultural sensitivity was higher. In addition, multicultural sensitivity was a significant
predictor of cultural competence. Second, the test for mediating effect is demonstrated
that cultural sensitivity partly is mediated the relationship between cultural
encounter/experiencing and cultural competence. Therefore, various multicultural
education and cultural encounter programs for social work students are required for
development of cultural competence.