Predicting Positive Goal Attainment and Symptom Reduction from Early Group Climate Dimensions

ABSTRACT

The general thesis of this paper is that interactional variables are the most promising way to forecast the results of psychological treatment. In particular we believe that perceived group climate dimensions early in group psychotherapy might be valuable predictors. The group atmosphere–climate dimensions, cohesion and relationship, were significant predictors of positive goal attainment and/or symptom reduction (affiliation, involvement–engagement) and so was the subscale, submission–conformity. In addition, the dimensions avoidance and anxiety were negatively correlated with the same outcome indexes. A multiple linear regression analysis suggests, however, that these significant predictions reflect the pretherapy levels of therapy projects–targets and symptoms to be reduced. This study is so promising that group therapy researchers and clinicians are recommended to exploit group climate dimensions to predict outcome.