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The Effect of Group Psychotherapy On Close Same-Gender Friendships Among Boys and Girls 1 Zipora Shechtman2
The Effect of Group Psychotherapy On Close Same-Gender Friendships Among Boys and Girls 1 Zipora Shechtman2
11/12, 1994
Brief Report
This article reports the unique impact of group therapy on close same-gender
friendships among preadolescent boys and girls. Data on close to 400
preadolescents, accumulated from three consecutive years of the same group
intervention, indicate that girls grow in their sense of intimacy in a same-gender
friendship whether treated or not, while only treated boys demonstrate such
growth. Change is attributed to the special features of group therapy, and the
significance of such progress for future cross-gender relationships is discussed.
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0360-0025/94/0600-0829507.00/0© 1994PlenumPublishingCorporation
830 Shechtman
METHOD
Participants
Instrument
Procedure
RESULTS
Table I. Intimate Friendships: Pre-Post Mean Scores, Gains, and t Values for
Experimental and Control Boys and Girls
Pre Post Gains t p
Experimental
Boys M 4.52 4.75 .23 3.13 .002
SD .79 .80
Control
Boys M 4.40 4.43 .02 .28 .78
SD .71 .67
DISCUSSION
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