Group counseling to enhance adolescents' close friendships.
The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of group counseling on adolescents' intimacy with a close friend. The study population was comprised of 174 residential and day students of seven ninth-grade classes in a residential school in Israel. All participants were socially disadvantaged, with a problematic family background. They were randomly divided into experimental and control conditions: group counseling versus an in-class enrichment program. School personnel in the helping professions conducted all counseling groups after receiving training and supervision. Results of the counseling intervention showed a significant late effect in intimacy growth with a close friend. None of the three covariates (gender, residency, divorce) had a significant impact on results. The results support, to some extent, the dual process model of relationship development.
Shechtman
Zipora
Z
University of Haifa, Faculty of Education, Haifa, Israel. ziporas@construct.haifa.ac.il
Freidman
Yaffa
Y
Kashti
Ytzhak
Y
Sharabany
Ruth
R
D000293:Adolescent; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011897:Random Allocation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors