Therapists’ perceptions of online group therapeutic relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey-based study.

IF 1.8 3区心理学 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL

Group Dynamics-Theory Research and Practice Pub Date : 2022-06-01 DOI:10.1037/gdn0000189

S. Gullo, G. Lo Coco, M. Leszcz, C. Marmarosh, Joseph R. Miles, Z. Shechtman, R. Weber, G. Tasca

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引用次数: 7

Abstract

Background: In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most group therapists moved their practice to online platforms. Surveys of psychotherapists indicate that many intend to maintain at least part of their practices online after the pandemic. This survey-based study is an attempt to identify therapist experiences with doing group therapy online, and to examine factors that are associated with therapist-rated outcomes. Method: We surveyed 307 group therapists about their ratings of the ease or difficulty in conducting group therapy online versus in-person, and indicators of patient outcomes in online groups. A confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good fitting three latent factor solution: group therapeutic process factor (therapist ratings of ease to foster therapeutic alliance, group cohesion, and patient self-disclosure), group therapist factor (therapist presence, empathy, and focus in online therapy), and group therapeutic challenges factors in online work (related to the difficulty of working through conflict, managing avoidance, observing nonverbal communication, and discomfort during the online session). An online group therapy outcome factor was the dependent variable modeled as a latent factor of therapists' perception of patient outcomes and their own satisfaction with online groups. In a structural equation model, higher levels of the group therapeutic processes and group therapist factors, and lower group challenges were associated with higher online group therapy outcomes. Discussion: The present study suggests that online groups operate based on many of the same factors that have been supported in in-person group treatment. These factors were associated with the therapist's perceptions of online group effectiveness. However, difficulties in managing relationships in the online session may represent a barrier to enacting group therapeutic factors. Postpandemic research on conducting online group therapy and managing online therapeutic relationships may lessen perceived drawbacks to its use.

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COVID-19大流行期间治疗师对在线团体治疗关系的看法:一项基于调查的研究

背景:2020年，由于COVID-19大流行，大多数团体治疗师将其实践转移到网络平台。对心理治疗师的调查显示，许多人打算在疫情后至少保持部分在线治疗。这项基于调查的研究试图确定治疗师在网上进行团体治疗的经验，并检查与治疗师评估结果相关的因素。方法:对307名团体治疗师进行调查，了解他们对在线团体治疗与面对面团体治疗的难易程度的评分，以及在线团体治疗的患者预后指标。验证性因子分析结果很好地拟合了三个潜在因子解:团体治疗过程因素(治疗师对促进治疗联盟、团体凝聚力和患者自我披露的容易程度的评分)、团体治疗因素(在线治疗中的治疗师在场、共情和关注)和在线工作中的团体治疗挑战因素(与解决冲突、管理回避、观察非语言交流和在线会话中的不适有关)。在线团体治疗结果因子是因变量模型，作为治疗师对患者结果的感知和他们自己对在线团体的满意度的潜在因素。在结构方程模型中，较高水平的群体治疗过程和群体治疗师因素以及较低的群体挑战与较高的在线群体治疗结果相关。讨论:目前的研究表明，在线小组的运作基于许多在面对面小组治疗中得到支持的相同因素。这些因素与治疗师对在线团体有效性的看法有关。然而，在在线会话中管理关系的困难可能是制定团体治疗因素的障碍。关于开展在线团体治疗和管理在线治疗关系的大流行后研究可能会减少其使用的明显缺点。

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来源期刊

Group Dynamics-Theory Research and Practice PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL-

CiteScore

6.50

自引率

9.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice publishes original empirical articles, theoretical analyses, literature reviews, and brief reports dealing with basic and applied topics in the field of group research and application. The editors construe the phrase group dynamics in the broadest sense—the scientific study of all aspects of groups—and publish work by investigators in such fields as psychology, psychiatry, sociology, education, communication, and business. The journal publishes articles examining groups in a range of contexts, including ad hoc groups in experimental settings, therapy groups, naturally forming friendship groups and cliques, organizational units, self-help groups, and learning groups.