Wang Kun, Meng Lingguo, Hunsicker Madeline, Kivlighan Martin, Aburizik Arwa
Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, University of Iowa.
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
J Couns Psychol. 2025 Jul;72(4):321-328. doi: 10.1037/cou0000804. Epub 2025 May 15.
Absenteeism is common in group psychotherapy and has the potential to negatively affect group processes and outcomes. However, there is a scarcity of research examining predictors of group members' attendance, despite the importance of regular and consistent attendance for the individual group member and the group-as-a-whole. This study examined an understudied construct, cultural subgrouping-or divisions among group members based on their cultural identities-as an antecedent of attendance in a rolling admission therapy group for cancer survivors. Data for this study consisted of longitudinal attendance data from 184 cancer survivors across 682 group sessions. Cultural subgrouping was operationalized as identity-based faultline strength, which represents the propensity for groups to subgroup based on members' perceived identities. We utilized multilevel modeling to examine the impact of identity-based faultline strength within a prior session based on the attending members' age and gender on the odds of attending the subsequent group session. Additionally, we examined if the consequential effect of identity-based faultlines on members' subsequent attendance significantly differed as a function of their previous attendance patterns and status as an Adolescent and Young Adult cancer survivor. Findings indicated that there was a significant and negative relationship between the identity-based faultline strength in the prior session and the probability that a group member would attend the subsequent session for new group members. Moreover, identity-based faultline strength in the prior session had the strongest negative effect on the probability that a member would attend the subsequent session for new Adolescent and Young Adult group members. Together, our findings suggest that cultural subgrouping is negatively associated with group therapy attendance and differentially affects members based on cultural identities. Clinical implications and future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
