Existential Group Work with Male Probationers: A Controlled Quasi-Experimental Study

IF 2.1 4区社会学 Q1 SOCIAL WORK

Research on Social Work Practice Pub Date : 2026-03-17 DOI:10.1177/10497315261421182

Elif Yılmaz Aktaş, Fulya Akgül Gök

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Abstract

Purpose: This study examined whether an existentially oriented group intervention reduces existential anxiety and enhances unconditional self-acceptance among men under probation. Method: A controlled quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used with 20 male probationers (30–50 years), allocated to an intervention ( n = 10) or control group ( n = 10). The intervention consisted of eight biweekly 90-min group sessions structured around existential themes of freedom, responsibility, meaning, and authenticity. Outcomes were assessed using the Existential Concerns Questionnaire and the Unconditional Self-Acceptance Questionnaire, and data were analyzed with a 2 (group) × 2 (time) mixed-design analysis of variance. Results: The intervention group showed significant reductions in existential anxiety and significant increases in unconditional self-acceptance, with medium-to-large effect sizes, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: Existentially oriented group work appears to support meaning-making and self-acceptance among individuals under probation, offering a theoretically grounded complement to behavior-focused rehabilitation practices.

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男性缓刑犯的存在主义群体工作：一项对照准实验研究

目的：本研究探讨以存在为导向的团体干预是否能减少缓刑男性的存在焦虑和提高无条件自我接纳。方法：采用准实验前-后测试设计，对20名30 ~ 50岁的男性缓刑犯，分为干预组（n = 10）和对照组（n = 10）。干预包括八个每两周90分钟的小组会议，围绕自由、责任、意义和真实性等存在主义主题。结果采用存在关注问卷和无条件自我接纳问卷进行评估，数据采用2（组）× 2（时间）混合设计方差分析。结果：干预组存在焦虑显著减少，无条件自我接纳显著增加，具有中大型效应量，对照组无显著变化。结论：以存在为导向的小组工作似乎支持缓刑个体的意义制造和自我接受，为以行为为导向的康复实践提供了理论基础的补充。

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来源期刊

Research on Social Work Practice SOCIAL WORK-

CiteScore

3.50

自引率

11.10%

发文量

105

期刊介绍： Research on Social Work Practice, sponsored by the Society for Social Work and Research, is a disciplinary journal devoted to the publication of empirical research concerning the methods and outcomes of social work practice. Social work practice is broadly interpreted to refer to the application of intentionally designed social work intervention programs to problems of societal and/or interpersonal importance, including behavior analysis or psychotherapy involving individuals; case management; practice involving couples, families, and small groups; community practice education; and the development, implementation, and evaluation of social policies.