UNDERSTANDING HOW GROUPS WORK - A STUDY OF HOMOGENEOUS PEER GROUP FAILURES

The study examines thirty-six homogeneous peer support groups that failed to positively benefit most of the participants. Outcomes were assessed pre and one-year post using measures of mental health, marital relationships, and motherhood role indices. Four central group process characteristics previously found to be common in successful peer support groups were used as a framework for developing a series of post hoc hypotheses. The groups were found to be low on cohesiveness defined behaviorally, saliency, cognitive structures for reframing common dilemmas, and limited in the range of therapeutic experiences.