RESUMO
Peer support has a long history of helping people navigate mental health challenges and is increasingly utilized within men's mental health promotion initiatives. Despite considerable research conceptualizing and evaluating peer support in various contexts, little is known about the gendered dimensions of men's peer support and mutual help for mental health. This article provides an empirically informed commentary on men's peer support and informal help-seeking preferences to make recommendations for future directions for research and practice. Research examining men's peer support is emergent and the available evidence suggests that there is potential to conceptually align with many men's values and preferences for mental health help-seeking. Peer support offers a non-clinical, strength-based adjunct to professional support that may aid men in navigating a range of mental health challenges. Consideration must be given to the influence of gender socialization and men's diverse experiences with developing and maintaining peer relationships. It should not be assumed that authentic and supportive relationships will naturally form when men congregate together. As a growing number of interventions and programs emerge targeted at boys and men, there are important opportunities to leverage these health promotion efforts to encourage and coach men to engage in mutual help. Opportunities for research and practice are discussed to better understand and harness the health-promoting potential of peer support for men's mental health.
Assuntos
Promoção da Saúde , Saúde Mental , Grupo Associado , Apoio Social , Humanos , Masculino , Promoção da Saúde/métodos , Saúde do HomemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study examined therapists' dispositional empathy profiles and how they differ based on professional and personal characteristics. METHOD: A total of 376 clinicians was recruited for this study. Dispositional empathy was assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Profiles were generated using latent profile analysis. Predictors of profiles were assessed with multiple self-report questionnaires measuring demographic and professional characteristics, romantic attachment styles, five-factor personality traits and vulnerable narcissism. RESULTS: A four-profile solution was retained with the following proportions: rational empathic (20%), disengaged/detached (10%), empathic immersion (35%) and insecure/self-absorbed (35%). Overall, few relationships were found regarding demographic and professional characteristics. In contrast, significant relationships were found between profile membership and personal characteristics, including avoidant and anxious attachment, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, intellect/imagination and vulnerable narcissism. CONCLUSION: The findings show that differences in therapists' empathic dispositions are linked to personality dimensions. Implications for psychotherapy research, practice and training are discussed.
Assuntos
Empatia , Psicoterapeutas , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Psicoterapeutas/psicologia , Psicoterapeutas/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Personalidade , Inquéritos e Questionários , Relações Profissional-Paciente , NarcisismoRESUMO
ABSTRACT: The Psychic Pain Scale (PPS) measures a form of mental pain involving overwhelming negative affect and loss of self-control. Understanding psychic pain among men is needed to advance efforts for preventing male suicide. The present study examined the factor structure and psychosocial correlates of the PPS among 621 online help-seeking men. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a higher-order factor comprising affect deluge and loss of control factors. Psychic pain evinced significant associations with general psychological distress, r = 0.64; perceived social support, r = -0.43; social connectedness, r = -0.55; and suicidal ideation, r = 0.65 (all p 's < 0.001)-the latter three remained significant after controlling for general distress. Psychic pain also mediated the association between social disconnection and suicidal ideation (standardized indirect effect = -0.14 [-0.21, -0.09]), after controlling for social support and distress. Findings support the PPS as a promising measure for investigating psychic pain among men and indicate psychic pain as a link between social disconnection and suicidal ideation.
Assuntos
Ideação Suicida , Suicídio , Humanos , Masculino , Apoio Social , Dor , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
Suicidal ideation (SI) is a known precursor to suicide among men. While loneliness and thwarted belongingness (TB) have been identified as key factors influencing SI, no study has reported on all three constructs to investigate whether loneliness is associated with SI by way of TB. Furthermore, it is not clear whether personality impairment has a moderating role on this process. The present study examined the impact of loneliness on SI among men and whether TB mediated this relationship. Additionally, the study investigated whether personality impairment (i.e., self-functioning, interpersonal functioning) moderated the relationship between loneliness and TB. Canadian men (N = 434) completed an online survey that included self-report assessments of the study constructs. Conditional process modeling was used to test the indirect effect of loneliness on SI via the mediating effect of TB. Findings indicated a significant association between loneliness and SI that was mediated by TB. Further, impairment in self-functioning moderated the relationship between loneliness and TB, indicating that the relationship was stronger among men with greater difficulties in self-functioning. The findings are important to consider within the COVID-19 context, as they point to the need to reduce the detrimental impacts of loneliness, thereby potentially mitigating male SI.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Ideação Suicida , Humanos , Masculino , Solidão , Relações Interpessoais , Canadá , Personalidade , Fatores de Risco , Teoria PsicológicaRESUMO
ABSTRACT: Self-reliance features as one of the notable male norms espoused by traditional masculine socialization. Strict adherence to a self-reliant attitude has been found to confer risk for depression and suicidality among men. Yet, little research has investigated the factors that may contribute to self-reliance having a negative impact for men. Using data from a large sample of Canadian men (N = 530), the present study examined the association between self-reliance and depression, while also assessing the roles of loneliness and not feeling understood as contributing factors in this process. Findings indicated that the moderated mediation model was significant, pointing to loneliness as a significant mediator in the association between self-reliance and depression. Furthermore, the findings revealed that not feeling understood moderated the relationship between self-reliance and loneliness, indicating that this association applies mainly to those men who do not feel understood by at least one important person in their life.
Assuntos
Adaptação Psicológica , Depressão/psicologia , Solidão/psicologia , Homens , Adulto , Canadá , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Análise de Regressão , Autorrelato , Ideação SuicidaRESUMO
Deleterious effects of separation and divorce on men's mental health are well-documented; however, little is known about their help-seeking when adjusting to these all-too-common life transitions. Employing interpretive descriptive methods, interviews with 47 men exploring their mental health help-seeking after a relationship break-up were analyzed in deriving three themes: (1) Solitary work and tapping established connections, (2) Reaching out to make new connections, and (3) Engaging professional mental health care. Men relying on solitary work and established connections accessed relationship-focused self-help books, online resources, and confided in friends and/or family. Some participants supplemented solitary work by reaching out to make new connections including peer-based men's groups and education and social activities. Comprising first-time, returning, and continuing users, many men responded to relationship break-up crises by engaging professional mental health care. The findings challenge longstanding commentaries that men actively avoid mental health promotion by illuminating wide-ranging help resources.
Assuntos
Masculinidade , Saúde Mental , Humanos , Masculino , Homens/psicologia , Saúde do Homem , Parceiros SexuaisRESUMO
ISSUE ADDRESSED: Many men are challenged by barriers to mental health help-seeking and engagement. For men who do access care, their pathways to engaging services can offer important insights to what might constitute gender-specific care. METHODS: Data were drawn from an online cross-sectional survey of N = 2009 Australian men (aged 16-85; M = 43.5) reflecting on their initial pathways to mental health services, including their reasons for help-seeking, how they first located a therapist and the source of any initial recommendation for engaging with services. Respondents were recruited with targeted advertisements via Movember's Facebook page. RESULTS: A relatively even age distribution was observed, with most respondents residing in metropolitan areas (60.4%), a majority employed full time (47.7%), and 25.7% identifying as gay or bisexual. Participants tended to be self-motivated to seek help, with referrals by general practitioners to specialist mental health services. The most common underpinning precipitant for seeking help was anxiety, particularly for younger men, whereas older men tended to have sought help more commonly for familial, relationship or work-related factors. Older men were also more likely to report self-motivated help-seeking, whereas younger men more commonly sought help on the recommendation of a family member. CONCLUSIONS: There are varied pathways for men's initial mental health help-seeking journeys that require an ongoing examination to ensure health promotion efforts are appropriately tailored and responding to men's needs. SO WHAT: As more men access mental health services, having a nuanced understanding of their likely pathways to care can inform the help-seeking efforts of other men as well as guide improved services and systems to reduce barriers.
Assuntos
Serviços de Saúde Mental , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde , Idoso , Austrália , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Masculino , Homens/psicologia , Saúde do Homem , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression in men is significantly lower than women despite male suicide being higher. Therefore, improving the understanding and detection of depression in men is an important research and clinical aim. AIMS: To examine the prevalence of prototypic, externalising and mixed depressive symptoms and their relation to mental illness and suicide risk. METHODS: Quantitative data were obtained through a survey of N = 1000 Canadian males (median age = 49.63 years, SD = 14.60). A range of validated scales were incorporated including the PHQ-9, K6, SBQ-R and MDRS. RESULTS: Using established cut-off scores, the proportions classified into distinct symptom groups were: not depressed (69%), prototypical (8%), mixed (12%) and externalising (11%). Risk of mental illness and suicidal risk was significantly elevated in all depressed groups. Compared to the not-depressed group, those experiencing only externalising symptoms and those with mixed symptomology were at significantly increased risk of mental illness as well current suicide risk. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the clinical importance of considering a broad range of potential presentations of depression in men, all of which are associated with increased suicide risk.
Assuntos
Angústia Psicológica , Prevenção do Suicídio , Canadá/epidemiologia , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ideação Suicida , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Identification of masculine values associated with men's depression and suicide risk may generate new intervention targets for those with known static risk factors (e.g., exposure to childhood maltreatment). AIMS: To validate the factor structure of a measure of health-related masculine values and examine correlates relative to childhood maltreatment exposure. METHOD: Self-report data was collected from 530 Canadian men, mean age 47.91 years (SD = 14.51). RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis validated an abbreviated eight-item, two-factor model of the Intensions Masculine Values Scale (IMVS-8; CFI = .984, TLI = .977, RMSEA = .054, SRMR = .032). Cluster groups of low (n = 57), moderate (n = 206) and high (n = 267) adherence to these health-related masculine values were identified, equivalent on exposure to childhood maltreatment and previous mental health treatment. A multivariate group × maltreatment interaction was observed (p = .017) whereby males in the low cluster with a maltreatment history endorsed higher mood-related symptomology. This same pattern was observed in a univariate group × maltreatment interaction for suicide risk (p = .006). CONCLUSIONS: Health-related masculine values were associated with lower depression and suicide risk in men who have a history of childhood maltreatment. Future intervention studies should investigate whether development of health-related masculine values can reduce depression and suicide risk among men with a history of childhood maltreatment.
Assuntos
Maus-Tratos Infantis , Suicídio , Canadá/epidemiologia , Criança , Depressão/epidemiologia , Depressão/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Masculinidade , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Suicide in Canadian men is high and rising. Research consistently indicates increased suicide risk in male subgroups including sexual minority, Indigenous, middle-aged, and military men. The current scoping review addresses the research question: Among male subgroups featured in Canadian suicide research, what are the key findings to inform suicide prevention efforts?. METHOD: A scoping review was undertaken in accord with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Structured searches were conducted in CIHAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science to identify studies reporting suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts) and suicide among men in Canada. Inclusion criteria comprised primary empirical studies featuring Canadian male subgroups published in English from 2009 to 2020 inclusive. RESULTS: Sixty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria, highlighting significant rates of male suicidality and/or suicide in 3 categories: (1) health inequities (n = 29); (2) age-specific (n = 30); and (3) occupation (n = 9). The health inequities category included sexual minority men, Indigenous, and other marginalized males (i.e., homeless, immigrant men, and men who use opiates). Age-specific men focused on adolescents and youth, and middle-aged and older males. Active military, veterans, and first responders featured in the occupation category. Studies compared at risk male subgroups to females, general male populations, and/or other marginalized groups in emphasizing mental health disparities and increased suicide risk. Some men's suboptimal connections to existing mental health care services were also highlighted. CONCLUSION: While male subgroups who are vulnerable to suicidality and suicide were consistently described, these insights have not translated to tailored upstream suicide prevention services for Canadian boys and men. There may be some important gains through integrating social and mental health care services for marginalized men, implementing school-based masculinity programs for adolescent males, orientating clinicians to the potential for men's mid-life suicide risks (i.e., separation, bereavement, retirement) and lobbying employers to norm help-seeking among activate military, veterans, and first responder males.
Assuntos
Saúde do Homem , Prevenção do Suicídio , Adolescente , Idoso , Canadá/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Masculinidade , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ideação SuicidaRESUMO
Male suicide rates are high and rising, and important insights can be gleaned from understanding the experiences of men who have attempted suicide. Drawing from a grounded theory photovoice study of diverse Canadian men, three intertwined thematic processes were derived: (a) preceding death struggles, (b) life-ending attempts and saving graces, and (c) managing to stay alive post suicide attempt. Preceding death struggles were characterized by cumulative injuries, intensifying internalized pain, isolation, and participant's efforts for belongingness in diminishing their distress. Men's life-ending attempts included overdosing and jumping from bridges; independent of method, men's saving graces emerged as changing their minds or being saved by others. Managing to stay alive post suicide attempt relied on men's acceptance that their mental illness was unending but amenable to effective self-management with professional mental health care. The findings offer vital clues about how male suicide might be prevented.
Assuntos
Masculinidade , Tentativa de Suicídio , Canadá , Humanos , Masculino , Homens , Saúde do HomemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE(S): Interpersonal problems are one of the most persistent difficulties facing those with personality disorders (PDs) and are linked with dysfunction across numerous social domains. Using an interpersonal model of PDs, we examined the indirect effects of Avoidant PD (AvPD) symptoms and social dysfunction through interpersonal problems, as well as Borderline PD (BPD) symptoms and social dysfunction. METHODS: Participants were 226 adults taking part in an outpatient treatment program. RESULTS: Using cross-sectional data from self-reported measures, we found that cold (b = 0.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.038, 0.176]) and overly nurturant (b = 0.04, 95% CI [0.001, 0.090]) interpersonal problems showed an indirect association between AvPD symptoms and social dysfunction. The only significant indirect association between BPD symptoms and social dysfunction was overly nurturant (b = 0.05, 95% CI [0.001, 0.120]). CONCLUSIONS: Results may aid in the development of more individualized treatments for AvPD and BPD symptoms.
Assuntos
Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline , Adulto , Transtorno da Personalidade Borderline/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Transtornos da Personalidade , Autorrelato , Comportamento SocialRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Emerging research highlights that therapists experience difficulty engaging and retaining male clients in talk therapy. Understanding therapists' challenges when working with men can inform gender-specific training efforts. METHODS: Open-ended qualitative survey data were collected from a sample of 421 Australian-based therapists. Participants described that which they find most challenging about therapeutic work with men. Responses were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were revealed: (1) men's wavering commitment and engagement; (2) males as ill-equipped for therapy; and (3) therapists' uncertainty. Contrasting state and trait constructs, much of the men's state-based wavering commitment and engagement was positioned as amenable to change whereas traits assigned men as ill-equipped for therapy and unreachable. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore a clear need to better target training efforts to directly respond to the needs of therapists working with men, such that all therapists are well-equipped to meet men with gender-sensitive therapy.
Assuntos
Relações Profissional-Paciente , Psicoterapia , Austrália , Humanos , Masculino , Grupos Raciais , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: When a client feels a threat to their freedom or autonomy as a result of external feedback, they can act out and respond in maladaptive ways. This state-referred to as reactance-has potential ramifications on interpersonal functioning. However, the underlying factors exacerbating this response including self-esteem and gender are yet to be extensively explored in a clinical sample. The present study examined whether verbal and/or behavioural reactance mediate the relationship between self-esteem and interpersonal problems and if this mediational relationship differs between men and women. METHOD: Patients with personality dysfunction (N = 136) completed pretreatment assessments of reactance, self-esteem, and interpersonal problems, and a conditional process model using these constructs was tested. RESULTS: Findings indicated that the moderated mediation model was significant, pointing to behavioural reactance as a significant mediator in the association between self-esteem and interpersonal problems. Furthermore, the findings revealed that gender moderated the relationship between self-esteem and behavioural reactance, indicating that this association may apply specifically to men low in self-esteem. DISCUSSION: These results shed light on how behavioural reactance may be an important manifestation of low self-esteem for men and a key contributor to their interpersonal problems. The findings draw attention to the importance of considering different factors at play when working with reactant individuals in therapy.
Assuntos
Relações Interpessoais , Transtornos da Personalidade/psicologia , Autoimagem , Adulto , Emoções , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores Sexuais , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Pathological narcissism is associated with decreased quality of life, even when accounting for psychiatric comorbidity, but the processes behind this association are unclear. Here, we evaluate whether disturbed relatedness accounts for the negative association between narcissistic pathology and quality of life. Patients in day hospital treatment for personality pathology (N = 218, 70% female; mean age, 37.3 years) completed measures of personality disorder features, quality of life, and global symptoms before beginning treatment. Quality of object relations was assessed through semistructured interviews. Regression-based mediation analyses showed that narcissistic personality traits relate to quality of life through quality of object relations, controlling for other personality disorders and psychiatric distress. These results highlight the importance of problematic relationship patterns for the low quality of life associated with pathological narcissism. Clinicians working with narcissistic individuals should consider psychotherapies that promote mature relatedness and should attend to facilitating the quality of patients' relationships.
Assuntos
Relações Interpessoais , Narcisismo , Apego ao Objeto , Transtornos da Personalidade/psicologia , Qualidade de Vida/psicologia , Adulto , Alberta , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pacientes Ambulatoriais , Análise de RegressãoRESUMO
Improvement in life satisfaction is hard to achieve for any patient with personality psychopathology, and possibly even moreso for those who feel hopeless at the start of treatment. The present research investigated the potential influence of hopelessness in the treatment of patients with personality dysfunction, using data from patients who completed an intensive group therapy program designed to reduce symptom distress and support optimal psychosocial functioning (N = 80). In the present study, we sought to examine whether hopelessness would moderate (i.e., strengthen or weaken) relations between compatibility ratings and life satisfaction outcome. Hopelessness had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between compatibility and outcome, suggesting that, for patients who entered treatment feeling more hopeless, higher appraisals of fit within the group facilitated better gains in life satisfaction. If replicated, the findings underlie the importance of focusing on increasing hope and perceived group affiliation in the treatment of personality dysfunction.
Assuntos
Depressão/psicologia , Esperança , Relações Interpessoais , Satisfação Pessoal , Transtornos da Personalidade/terapia , Angústia Psicológica , Funcionamento Psicossocial , Psicoterapia de Grupo/métodos , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Percepção , Transtornos da Personalidade/psicologia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Men's tendency to conceal their distress has been linked with increased depressive symptoms. Although interpersonal connectedness has been associated with distress concealment and depression, it is unclear how connectedness mediates this association. The aim of the present study was to examine the mediating effects of feeling understood and loneliness-two facets of interpersonal connectedness-in the association between distress concealment and depressive symptoms in men. A sample of 530 Canadian men was selected based on age- and region-stratification that reflects the national population. Participants completed measures of depression symptoms, distress concealment, loneliness, and feeling understood. Mediation analyses were conducted. Results supported a sequential mediation model: concealing distress was associated with not feeling understood, not feeling understood was associated with loneliness, and loneliness was associated with depressive symptoms. These findings shed light on how distress concealment is associated with depressive symptoms among men. Implications for practice and theory are discussed.
Assuntos
Adaptação Psicológica , Depressão/psicologia , Solidão/psicologia , Homens , Estresse Psicológico/psicologia , Adulto , Canadá , Compreensão , Humanos , Relações Interpessoais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos PsicológicosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Men can be reluctant to disclose distress and many men have ambivalence toward seeking help for depression, leading to poor uptake of and engagement in psychotherapy. The present study sought to explore whether a previously dissatisfying therapy experience leads to greater doubts about the effectiveness of treatment, in turn impacting on a man's willingness to disclose their distress in future. METHOD: An online survey of 133 Canadian men was conducted to investigate their current depressive symptoms, previous experience of, and belief in, the effectiveness of psychotherapy and likelihood of disclosing distress to their physician. A regression model with mediation was employed to analyze the relationship between these responses. RESULTS: The regression model highlighted a significant negative association between satisfaction with previous therapy and doubt about the effectiveness of therapy (t = -7.299, 99% confidence interval [-.537, -.254], p < .001). There was also a significant indirect effect, such that doubt about the effectiveness of therapy mediated the association between previous satisfaction and willingness to disclose distress to a physician (t = 3.748, 99% confidence interval [.123, .690], p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Providing treatment for depression that men find engaging and satisfying may improve their confidence that psychotherapy can help, make them more likely to reach out for assistance in the future and in turn, benefit their long-term mental health outcomes.
Assuntos
Transtorno Depressivo/terapia , Comportamento de Busca de Ajuda , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/psicologia , Satisfação do Paciente , Psicoterapia , Adulto , Canadá , Transtorno Depressivo/psicologia , Previsões , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Autorrevelação , Inquéritos e Questionários , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Alexithymia has been hypothesised to elevate risk of negative mental health outcomes for men. The growing literature related to the role of men's experience of self-conscious emotions (i.e., shame and guilt) suggests that these aversive affective experiences may be important in the relationship between alexithymia and negative mental health outcomes. The present study used parallel mediation models to determine the mediating roles of shame and guilt in the relationships between alexithymia and psychological distress and suicide-related behaviours. Online self-report data was collected from a sample of Canadian men (N = 1,000; M age = 49.63, SD = 14.59). Participants completed measures of alexithymia, guilt, shame and depression. Adjusting for current depression symptoms, bias corrected bootstrapping (95% CIs) indicated that both shame and guilt were mediators between identification of feelings and distress (R2 = .67), and description of feelings and distress (R2 = .64). In contrast, guilt, but not shame, mediated the relationship between both identification of feelings and suicide-related behaviours (R2 = .38), and description of feelings and suicide-related behaviours (R2 = .39). Results indicate that men's difficulties identifying and describing their feelings and corresponding distress are particularly explained by shame - an aversive maladaptive emotion that promotes concealment of a perceived defective self. Conversely, guilt was more salient for men's suicide-related behaviours.
Assuntos
Sintomas Afetivos/fisiopatologia , Depressão/fisiopatologia , Culpa , Homens , Vergonha , Ideação Suicida , Tentativa de Suicídio , Adulto , Canadá , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Reduced social impairment and improved life satisfaction are important objectives in group treatment for patients with personality dysfunction. Knowledge regarding patient characteristics and group treatment processes that contribute to these outcomes, however, remains limited. Dispositional connectedness, the valuing of interpersonal connections, may be an important patient factor that influences patients' experience of group treatment in ways that facilitate therapeutic benefits. The present study investigated the roles of dispositional connectedness and group engagement in contributing to improvement in social functioning and life satisfaction through integrative group treatment for personality dysfunction. Seventy-nine patients who completed an integrative group treatment programme were assessed for dispositional connectedness at baseline and social functioning and life satisfaction at pretreatment and posttreatment; each also provided ratings of group engagement during treatment. Regression analyses using bootstrap confidence intervals found significant indirect effects for dispositional connectedness regarding improvement in both social functioning and life satisfaction, through the mediating effect of group engagement. Thus, patients who entered treatment with tendencies towards interpersonal connectedness perceived a higher level of engagement in the group environment. Group engagement in turn contributed to greater improvement in social functioning and to greater improvement in life satisfaction following treatment. The findings indicate dispositional connectedness as a salient characteristic in selecting patients for group treatment and highlight the role of an engaged interpersonal climate in facilitating improvement in social functioning and life satisfaction.