Measuring Cohesion and Self-Disclosure in Psychotherapy Groups for Patients with Advanced Cancer: An Analysis of the Psychometric Properties of the Group Therapy Experience Scale

ABSTRACT

Objective: Understanding that the group process informs group interventions. However, there is little systematic research on group process variables in psychotherapy groups for patients with cancer. Method: We analyzed the psychometric properties of the Group Therapy Experience Scale (GTES) and evaluated its potential importance in advanced cancer therapy groups. Results: The GTES demonstrated good internal consistency (coefficient alpha = .84). An exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded four factors. Although all four models were explored, the 1- and 2-factor models appeared to provide the best fit for the data. The GTES total score was negatively correlated with group size and positively correlated with number of groups attended by participants. Further, the GTES total score was correlated with post-intervention spiritual well-being, benefit finding, post-traumatic growth, and quality of life.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute [1RO1AT00184201]; National Institutes of Health [T32 CA009461];

Notes on contributors

Allison Marziliano

Allison Marziliano is a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA, and a pre-doctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hayley Pessin and William Breitbart are at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. Barry Rosenfeld is the Chair at the Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA.

Hayley Pessin

Allison Marziliano is a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA, and a pre-doctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hayley Pessin and William Breitbart are at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. Barry Rosenfeld is the Chair at the Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA.

Barry Rosenfeld

Allison Marziliano is a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA, and a pre-doctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hayley Pessin and William Breitbart are at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. Barry Rosenfeld is the Chair at the Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA.

William Breitbart

Allison Marziliano is a fifth-year graduate student in the Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA, and a pre-doctoral fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Hayley Pessin and William Breitbart are at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. Barry Rosenfeld is the Chair at the Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, USA.