title: Social ecology: a method for evaluating groups.
abstract: The applicability of social ecology as a means to evaluate psychotherapy groups is discussed by means of a case example. A Couples' Growth in a community alcohol treatment programme was used to demonstrate a social ecological approach to the assessment and description of groups. Members' and leaders' perceptions of the group's social environment, as well as perceptions of an ideal group, were determined via a recently developed Group Environment Scale. This assessment pointed to areas of discrepancies, and the results were validated in a "group feedback session". Systematic data on the social ecology of groups will enable clinicians to better evaluate and describe this treatment setting in which behaviour change is being attempted.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000592:standards*; D012931:Social Environment