Journal

Journal of Counseling Psychology: Examining the Relationship Between Cultural Subgrouping and Attendance for Adolescents and Young Adults in a Cancer Survivor Group

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Absenteeism is common in group psychotherapy and has the potential to negatively affect group processes and outcomes. However, there is a scarcity of research examining predictors of group members' attendance, despite the importance of regular and consistent attendance for the individual group member and the group-as- a-whole. This study examined an understudied construct, cultural subgrouping-or divisions among group members based on their cultural identities-as an antecedent of attendance in a rolling admission therapy group for cancer survivors. Data for this study consisted of longitudinal attendance data from 184 cancer survivors across 682 group sessions. Cultural subge subgrouping was ping was operationalized as identity-based faultline strength, which represents the propensity for groups to subgroup based on members' perceived identities. We utilized multilevel modeling to examine the impact of identity-based faultline strength within a prior session used on the attending members' age and gender on the odds of attending the subsequent group session. Additionally, we we examined if the conse if the consequential effect of identity-based faultlines on members' subsequent attendance significantly differed as a function of their previous attendance patterns and status as an Adolescent and Young Adult cancer survivor. Findings indicated that there was a significant and negative relationship between the identity-based faultline strength in the prior session and the probability that a group member would attend the subsequent session for new group members. Moreover, identity-based faultline strength in the prior session had the strongest negative effect on the probability that a member would attend the subsequent session for m or new Adolescent and Young Adult group members. Together, our findings suggest that cultural subgrouping is negatively associated with group therapy attendance and differentially affects members based on cultural identities. Clinical implications and future research are discussed.

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

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Publisher

: ., July 2025

Collation

Vol.72, N0.4, p.321-328

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0022-0167

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

Cultural subgrouping
Group faultlines
Member-group fit
Cancer groups

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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