New prospects for process research in group therapy: Text-based process variables in psychotherapeutic Internet chat groups

Abstract

This study focuses on the operationalization and validation of text-based process variables in psychotherapeutic Internet chat groups. The process variables activity, outdegree (OD; i.e., the frequency at which a group member addresses others in the group), and indegree (ID; i.e., the frequency at which a group member's name is mentioned by other group members or by the therapist [IDT]) were operationalized. Using 1,046 session transcripts from 130 participants of an Internet chat aftercare program, the authors studied the concurrent and predictive validity of activity, OD, ID, and IDT and of 52 text-based variables comprising linguistic, emotional, and cognitive aspects. Results showed consistent correlations between psychometric group ratings and the text-based variables ID, OD, and activity. The predictive validity of the variables IDT, ID, and activity was rather low but as good as the predictive validity of the psychometric ratings. The clinical implications of the results are discussed.

Defining Internet-Supported Therapeutic Interventions

“…Despite the methodological difficulties, published quantitative studies provide much support to the claimed effectiveness of online therapy in various distress areas, such as anxiety [68,69], loneliness [70], and smoking cessation [71]. Online communication has also been shown to be very beneficial in patients' aftercare [72][73][74].…”

A Preliminary Comparison of Online and Face-to-Face Process Groups

“…The Activity subscale represents the subjective level of engagement and activity of a group member during a group therapy session (Haug, Strauss, Gallas, & Kordy, 2008). This subscale is associated with a higher participation rate and higher levels of self-opening when observing client behavior in a text-based environment (Haug et al, 2008). The Safety subscale represents the perceived level of personal safety experienced within the group with regard to personal vulnerability.…”

“…The level of perceived connection positively corresponds with counseling outcome (MacKenzie & Tschuschke, 1993). The Activity subscale represents the subjective level of engagement and activity of a group member during a group therapy session (Haug, Strauss, Gallas, & Kordy, 2008). This subscale is associated with a higher participation rate and higher levels of self-opening when observing client behavior in a text-based environment (Haug et al, 2008).…”

Internetbasierte Nachsorge zur Förderung der Nachhaltigkeit psychotherapeutischer Behandlungen

“…Die gesamte Kommunikation der Gruppensitzungen wird in standardisierter Form in Datenbanken gespeichert, sodass sie für weitergehende Analysen direkt verfügbar ist. Auf der Grundlage dieser Transkripte können Indizes zur Beschreibung der Gruppeninteraktion automatisch generiert werden (Haug et al 2008b). Besonders die Aktivität, operationalisiert durch die Anzahl der Wörter und Statements, die von einem Teilnehmer im Laufe einer Sitzung beigesteuert werden, scheint dabei in Zusammenhang mit der Bewertung der jeweiligen Chatsitzung zu stehen (Haug 2006).…”