Although it is widely assumed that cohesiveness promotes positive outcomes in group psychotherapy... more Although it is widely assumed that cohesiveness promotes positive outcomes in group psychotherapy, the empirical evidence for this notion is very limited. In light of persistent confusion over how it should be conceptualized and measured, we argue that the term "cohesiveness" is too amorphous to serve as an adequate organizing principle for theory and research, and that it should be replaced with more cogent and specific alternatives. Drawing on social psychological literature, we also question the intuitive notion that cohesiveness necessarily leads to positive outcomes. To the extent that the need for harmony is prioritized over the need for personal expression, dissent, and challenge, then it could be that cohesiveness might have negative as well as positive implications for members of group therapy.
Participants Participants were recruited from ADCIT members and consisted of one private hospital... more Participants Participants were recruited from ADCIT members and consisted of one private hospital (Service 1) and one public hospital (Service 2) alcohol and drug treatment centres in the South East Queensland area (other hospitals were involved in the consortium but for resource reasons were only able to collect clinical indicator data or psychosocial outcome data but not both, and therefore could not be included in this linkage study).
Music is commonly associated with substance use yet little is known about the music experiences o... more Music is commonly associated with substance use yet little is known about the music experiences of adults with substance use disorders. In particular, there has been no detailed analysis of musical influences on emotions and cravings among clients in treatment and how these influences might occur. To explore these questions, surveys of music experiences were collected from 143 clients undergoing treatment (37 private hospital clients and 106 residential rehabilitation clients). Of the hospital sample, 70% listened to music for over an hour each day, typically while alone, and their preferred genres were pop and rock. Clients stated that music listening intensified the emotional experience of drug taking and vice versa. Residential rehabilitation clients reported that their preferred music was gloomier or heavier when using substances than when in recovery. Forty-three percent said that particular music increased their urge to use substances, and there were five common explanations, including: the song was associated with past experiences of substance use; the song evoked emotions related to substance use; and the song contained lyrics about substance use. Nevertheless, most respondents believed that music was important to their recovery. The findings are considered in terms of their clinical implications.
Membership in important social groups can promote a positive identity. We propose and test an ide... more Membership in important social groups can promote a positive identity. We propose and test an identity resource model in which personal self-esteem is boosted by membership in additional important social groups. Belonging to multiple important group memberships predicts personal self-esteem in children (Study 1a), older adults (Study 1b), and former residents of a homeless shelter (Study 1c). Study 2 shows that the effects of multiple important group memberships on personal self-esteem are not reducible to number of interpersonal ties. Studies 3a and 3b provide longitudinal evidence that multiple important group memberships predict personal self-esteem over time. Studies 4 and 5 show that collective self-esteem mediates this effect, suggesting that membership in multiple important groups boosts personal self-esteem because people take pride in, and derive meaning from, important group memberships. Discussion focuses on when and why important group memberships act as a social resourc...
The British journal of social psychology / the British Psychological Society, Jan 11, 2014
According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and supp... more According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and support over time is good for health and well-being, particularly during stressful transitions. However, in this study we explore the circumstances under which maintaining social identities - such as 'substance user' - may be harmful to health, and when a successful transition constitutes identity change, rather than maintenance. This prospective study examined social identities of 132 adults entering a drug and alcohol therapeutic community (TC) at admission, three fortnightly intervals and exit, as well as a representative subsample of 60 participants at follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA results showed that user identity decreased significantly over time, such that 76% of the sample decreased in user identity strength over the first month in the TC. At the same time, recovery identity ratings increased significantly over time, with 64% of the sample staying the same or increasing ...
Although it is widely assumed that cohesiveness promotes positive outcomes in group psychotherapy... more Although it is widely assumed that cohesiveness promotes positive outcomes in group psychotherapy, the empirical evidence for this notion is very limited. In light of persistent confusion over how it should be conceptualized and measured, we argue that the term "cohesiveness" is too amorphous to serve as an adequate organizing principle for theory and research, and that it should be replaced with more cogent and specific alternatives. Drawing on social psychological literature, we also question the intuitive notion that cohesiveness necessarily leads to positive outcomes. To the extent that the need for harmony is prioritized over the need for personal expression, dissent, and challenge, then it could be that cohesiveness might have negative as well as positive implications for members of group therapy.
Participants Participants were recruited from ADCIT members and consisted of one private hospital... more Participants Participants were recruited from ADCIT members and consisted of one private hospital (Service 1) and one public hospital (Service 2) alcohol and drug treatment centres in the South East Queensland area (other hospitals were involved in the consortium but for resource reasons were only able to collect clinical indicator data or psychosocial outcome data but not both, and therefore could not be included in this linkage study).
Music is commonly associated with substance use yet little is known about the music experiences o... more Music is commonly associated with substance use yet little is known about the music experiences of adults with substance use disorders. In particular, there has been no detailed analysis of musical influences on emotions and cravings among clients in treatment and how these influences might occur. To explore these questions, surveys of music experiences were collected from 143 clients undergoing treatment (37 private hospital clients and 106 residential rehabilitation clients). Of the hospital sample, 70% listened to music for over an hour each day, typically while alone, and their preferred genres were pop and rock. Clients stated that music listening intensified the emotional experience of drug taking and vice versa. Residential rehabilitation clients reported that their preferred music was gloomier or heavier when using substances than when in recovery. Forty-three percent said that particular music increased their urge to use substances, and there were five common explanations, including: the song was associated with past experiences of substance use; the song evoked emotions related to substance use; and the song contained lyrics about substance use. Nevertheless, most respondents believed that music was important to their recovery. The findings are considered in terms of their clinical implications.
Membership in important social groups can promote a positive identity. We propose and test an ide... more Membership in important social groups can promote a positive identity. We propose and test an identity resource model in which personal self-esteem is boosted by membership in additional important social groups. Belonging to multiple important group memberships predicts personal self-esteem in children (Study 1a), older adults (Study 1b), and former residents of a homeless shelter (Study 1c). Study 2 shows that the effects of multiple important group memberships on personal self-esteem are not reducible to number of interpersonal ties. Studies 3a and 3b provide longitudinal evidence that multiple important group memberships predict personal self-esteem over time. Studies 4 and 5 show that collective self-esteem mediates this effect, suggesting that membership in multiple important groups boosts personal self-esteem because people take pride in, and derive meaning from, important group memberships. Discussion focuses on when and why important group memberships act as a social resourc...
The British journal of social psychology / the British Psychological Society, Jan 11, 2014
According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and supp... more According to the Social Identity Model of Identity Change, maintaining social identities and support over time is good for health and well-being, particularly during stressful transitions. However, in this study we explore the circumstances under which maintaining social identities - such as 'substance user' - may be harmful to health, and when a successful transition constitutes identity change, rather than maintenance. This prospective study examined social identities of 132 adults entering a drug and alcohol therapeutic community (TC) at admission, three fortnightly intervals and exit, as well as a representative subsample of 60 participants at follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA results showed that user identity decreased significantly over time, such that 76% of the sample decreased in user identity strength over the first month in the TC. At the same time, recovery identity ratings increased significantly over time, with 64% of the sample staying the same or increasing ...
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Papers by Genevieve Dingle