The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the gestalt group counseling program for adolescents in Korea by utilizing meta-analysis methods. A total of 73 studies from 1985 to 2016 were selected and analyzed. The mean effect sizes ...
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the gestalt group counseling program for adolescents in Korea by utilizing meta-analysis methods. A total of 73 studies from 1985 to 2016 were selected and analyzed. The mean effect sizes and test for homogeneity of effect size were analyzed by using The R Project for Statistical Computing 3.4.0 version. The Random-effects model was adopted and 168 effect sizes were calculated. The following analysis results were observed.
First, the overall mean effect size of the program was found to be 0.942. The effect size is considered as a large mean effect size according to the criteria which Cohen (1988) established.
Second, among dependent variables, Self-concept was found to be the most effective variable (1.066) in regard to the effect size. Emotion (1.015), school life adaptation (0.874) and interpersonal relation (0.679) all showed mean effect size, implying that the gestalt group counseling program for adolescents was effective in all mentioned fields.
Third, a slight decrease was observed in the relations between the publication year of the subject for analysis and the effect size (-0.0228). The mean effect size differed between the sample groups according to the other moderating variables examined (school level of subject, spontaneity, subject specialty, gender and group size respectively). High school students showed the highest mean size for the school level of subjects (1.648) while the spontaneous group displayed the highest mean size for spontaneity (1.141). The highest mean sizes in subject specialty, gender and group size were observed in the general group (1.185), mixed general group (1.094) and groups with between 7 and 10 members (1.173) respectively. When the sessions were conducted more than 11 times, the mean effect was seen to be at its highest (1.361). Other groups representing highest mean effect sizes were more than 3 sessions per week (1.152), between 51 to 90 minutes per session (1.059) and over 9 weeks of conducting period (1.319). Moreover, the mean effect size was observed to be highest in cases where the experience report was filled in. Among the different gestalt group counseling program combinations, the mean effect sizes were seen to be different depending on the combinations of programs used. Utilizing the gestalt program combined with other counseling theories gave a mean effect size of 1.331, while combination with the empty chair or self-awareness centered program, integrated art therapy orientated program and GRIP program gave mean effect sizes of 1.202, 0.89 and 0.601 respectively. These combinations represented more than the average effectiveness of the mean effect size. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences observed based on the group size, number of sessions per week, duration of each session and experience reported.
Based on these outcomes, the findings of this study can be used to support the planning of interventions providing gestalt group counseling to adolescents. Moreover they can provide implications in the continued development and implementation of gestalt group counseling programs focusing on adolescents.