Abstracts Psychology

Barriers To Group Psychotherapy Among Racially AndEthnically Diverse College Students

by Raghav Suri

Group psychotherapy has become a preferred modality of direct clinical psychological services offered by many University Counseling Centers (UCCs), primarily because of the effectiveness of group psychotherapy in addressing the unique developmental issues that college students experience. However, there is a need for empirically supported data to identify barriers to group psychotherapy among college students, particularly related to multicultural identity variables. The present study examined barriers that college students face when considering joining a psychotherapy group. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and either the original or the modified version of the Barriers Scale, (Harris, 2012). Participants were divided into three groups, Black/African-American, White/Caucasian or Other Minorities (O.M.). Results showed that group psychotherapy was found to be one of the least desirable methods for distress management among all three groups. However, White college students showed greater willingness to enroll in group psychotherapy when more information was provided about the types of groups. Furthermore, O.M. and White college students endorsed a fear of being judged because of their experiences with people of other race/ethnicities. Results indicated that the fear of being judged negatively impacted White college students’ willingness to participate in group psychotherapy, but had no impact for O.M. students. Advisors/Committee Members: Williams, Julie L. (Committee Chair).