Personal-Growth Groups: Who Joins and Who Benefits?

Abstract

Diverse opinions (some positive, some neutral, and some negative) exist concerning the efficacy of personal-growth groups (PGGs). To determine if varying sociological backgrounds could account for the diversity of results of such groups, a mail survey of PGG participants was utilized to answer the research question "Do the selected variables indicate one's likelihood to (1) participate in PGG, and (2) have a positive or negative outcome?" Age, sex, occupation, income, education completed, marital status, and degree of religious affiliation were found to vary significantly from their distribution in the general population. The degree of positive- ness of response was found to be associated with three of the descriptive variables; four were associated with what was liked most about the PGG. Recommendations for practical applications and further research were made.