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Cohesion in group therapy.
Gary M Burlingame1, Debra Theobald McClendon, Jennifer Alonso
1Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA. gary_burlingame@byu.edu
Group cohesion, a key factor in therapy, significantly impacts treatment outcomes. This study found a positive correlation between cohesion and successful therapy, highlighting its importance for improving patient results.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Group Therapy Research
Background:
- Group cohesion is a central concept in group therapy literature.
- Existing definitions and measures of cohesion are reviewed.
- A new measure, the Group Questionnaire, is introduced, proposing two latent factors: relationship quality and structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review definitions and measures of group cohesion.
- To introduce and describe the Group Questionnaire.
- To conduct a meta-analysis on the relationship between cohesion and treatment outcome.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of cohesion definitions and measures.
- Introduction of the Group Questionnaire.
- Meta-analysis of 40 studies examining cohesion and treatment outcome.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant positive correlation (r = .25) was found between group cohesion and treatment outcome.
- Five moderator variables (age, theoretical orientation, group length, group size, and cohesion-enhancing interventions) significantly influenced this correlation.
Conclusions:
- Group cohesion is a significant predictor of treatment success in group therapy.
- Understanding the factors influencing cohesion can help improve therapeutic interventions.
- The Group Questionnaire offers a new tool for assessing group relationships.

