Person–group fit, group climate, and outcomes in a sample of incarcerated women participating in trauma recovery groups.

Group/Peer Support

April 2021

Full Citation

Paquin, J. D., Kivlighan Jr, D. M., & Drogosz, L. M. (2013). Person–group fit, group climate, and outcomes in a sample of incarcerated women participating in trauma recovery groups. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 17(2), 95. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0032702

Abstract

The present study sought to apply the concept of person-group (P-G) fit from the domain of organizational psychology to the domain of group psychotherapy. A time-series design was used to examine the relationship between an individual group member's fit with her group, operationalized as congruence and convergence, on perceptions of group climate and her session attendance and change in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Fifty-one of 73 incarcerated women, participating in six manualized (trauma recovery and empowerment model [TREM]) therapy groups provided data for analyses. Group members completed measures of group climate at each session and pre- and posttest ratings on the PTSD Symptom Scale-Self Report (PSS-SR). Fit with the group was operationalized as the absolute difference between a group member's score on engagement, avoidance, and conflict, and the average scores on these dimensions for the other group members. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine session-level (N = 1,606) fit across time. Results indicated that fit with the group for avoidance decreased (diverged), and conflict increased (converged) across sessions. Increasing fit with the group on perceptions of group conflict was associated with attending more group sessions (commitment), and increasing fit with the group on perceptions of group avoidance was associated with PTSD symptom change (goal accomplishment). Study results highlight that group processes (like fit) should be studied over time and in relation to relevant clinical outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)