title: Characteristics of participants in the Forum, psychotherapy clients, and control participants: a comparative study.
abstract: 'New age' activities, personality variables, symptomatology, and subjective well-being (SWB) among the Forum (F) participants, psychotherapy (P) clients, individuals who are both Forum and psychotherapy (FP) clients, and control (C) participants, who were never involved in either F or P were compared. A group of 64 Israeli men and 76 women (mean age = 38.55 years) completed a demographic questionnaire; the Internal-external, Sensation-seeking, Happiness, Affects balance, Satisfaction with life, and Anxiety and depression scales of the SCL-90. The FP and F participants used occult counsellors significantly more than the C participants, although gender differences were also found. All in all, the FP and P clients were more depressive and anxious, and less happy, less satisfied with their life, and affectively balanced than the F and the C participants. The rationality, personal responsibility, and mental health of the F participants are discussed in light of the results with considerations of short-versus long-term interventions.
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioral Sciences, Netanya Academic College, Israel. gidirubi@netvision.net.il
authors.forename: Gidi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D004493:Education; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires