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ABSTRACT
Stages of change could be driving forces to activate the realization of therapeutic factors and symptom change. Consequently, the aims of the present study were to investigate whether the stages of change concept is valid in group therapy settings shown by factor analysis, internal consistencies, and criterion validity. A total of 377 patients completed measures of stages of change, symptom change, and therapeutic factors. A confirmatory factor analysis replicated the stages of change factors for group therapy. Related to the criterion validity, stages of change demonstrated only low, non-significant associations with symptom change, but some stages of change were significant predictors of certain therapeutic factors. Further research is needed to explore whether a stronger focus on motivational stages of change could help to intensify the realization of therapeutic factors in group therapy.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the following hospitals for their support in data acquisition: Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin (ZPM) of the Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Klinik in der Plöck Heidelberg. Vogelsbergklinik Grebenhain, Alexianer Krankenhaus Aachen and Sigma-Zentrum Bad Säckingen. We would like to thank Prof. Annette Kämmerer and Prof. Peter Fiedler for their support of the study. Special thanks to all participating patients and therapists.
We state that no conflict of interest was present concerning this manuscript. The local ethics committee (Ethikkommission der Fakultät für Verhaltens- und Empirische Kulturwissenschaften der Universität Heidelberg) approved the study protocol in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. All participants provided written, informed consent.
Funding
Dr. Johannes Mander is supported by a grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG MA6526/2-1).