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The current study sought to further explore the theoretical model of mutual influence among therapy group members, which postulates that group members influence one another and that this influence is a key component of group treatments. However, a recent finding suggested that group members’ adjusted posttreatment outcomes were not significantly related. The current study reexamined mutual influence by testing this relationship in a markedly different sample on two outcome variables, depression and hopelessness. The data consisted of 78 HIV+ men participating in six therapy groups in a Taiwanese correctional facility. Contrary to our hypothesis, the relationship between an individual group member’s posttreatment depression and the aggregated depression scores of the other group members was not significant. As hypothesized, the relationship between an individual group member’s posttreatment hope and the aggregated sense of hope of the other group members was significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of group psychotherapy has been empirically studied and supported over several decades; however, there remains much to understand regarding the specific factors contributing to effective group psychotherapy. The current study uses Kashy and Kenny's (2000) actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine the relationship between an individual group member's outcome and the outcomes of the other group members. This is the first study to examine the effects of the outcomes of other therapy group members on those of individual members. Specifically, we examined the relationship between an individual group member's presymptom score, the aggregated presymptom scores of the other group members, and the aggregated pre- to postsymptom change of the other group members on an individual group member's pre- to postsymptom change. We analyzed the change in pre-post posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms of 105 women in 16 trauma-informed groups in a women's correctional facility. As hypothesized, an individual's presymptom measure (actor effect) and the aggregated presymptom measures of the other group members (partner effect) were positively related to the individual's change in PTSD symptoms. Contrary to our hypothesis, the aggregated pre-post change in PTSD symptom measures of the other group members (partner effect) was negatively associated with the pre-post change in PTSD symptom measures of an individual group member. Social comparison theory is discussed as an explanation for why a group member would report lowered amounts of change when in a group with others who are reporting a higher amount of change. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently there is a lack of evidence regarding the impact of gender composition of mixed-gender weight management therapy groups on members’ posttreatment outcomes. As such, the current study tested the association between the gender composition of mixed-gender narrative therapy groups for weight management and members’ posttreatment outcomes. Specifically, we examined the variability in group members’ adjusted posttreatment psychological (Outcome Questionnaire-45 [OQ-45]) and obesity-related (Obesity Related Well-Being [ORWELL 97]) symptoms as a function of the quadratic proportion of female members in a group, and the interaction between group member gender and the quadratic proportion of female group members. Pre- and posttreatment OQ-45 and ORWELL 97 data was collected from 32 men and 67 women participating in 15 short-term weight-management therapy groups. Results indicated that the quadratic proportion of female group members was significantly related to adjusted posttreatment OQ-45 scores, such that group members reported fewer psychological symptoms at posttreatment in more proportionally balanced groups of men and women. This relationship was not significant for adjusted posttreatment ORWELL 97 scores. Additionally, in an exploratory analysis we found a significant interaction between group member gender, the proportion of female group members, and group members’ adjusted posttreatment OQ-45 scores, indicating that the relationship between gender composition and adjusted posttreatment OQ-45 scores was stronger for men than women. These preliminary findings suggest that the gender composition of weight management groups is an important factor in group members’ posttreatment psychological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]