Associations of Group Size with Cohesion and Clinical Outcomes in Group Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review.
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Authors
Twomey, Conal
Dowling, Clodagh
Issue Date
2025-03-28
Type
Journal Article
Review
Review
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Group size is a consideration for all psychotherapy groups, yet the topic has been subject to surprisingly few empirical investigations. This review explored the influence of group size within group psychotherapy by investigating its associations with cohesion and clinical outcomes. Significant group-size associations were found in seven of the 17 included individual and meta-analysis studies (combined N = 21,425), pointing to partial support for the influence of group size. Some interesting tentative trends were identified, such as potentially better outcomes in smaller groups and greater group-size influence in process-orientated groups. Considerably more research is needed, as psychotherapy group-size decisions should ideally be informed by empirical evidence rather than by relying on clinical opinion, conventional wisdom, and recommendations made by influential commentators.
Description
Citation
Twomey, C., & Dowling, C. (2025). Associations of Group Size with Cohesion and Clinical Outcomes in Group Psychotherapy: A Systematic Review. International journal of group psychotherapy, 1–20. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207284.2025.2456020
Publisher
License
Journal
International journal of group psychotherapy
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
1943-2836