Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, Vol 29(2), Jun 2025, 67-80; doi:10.1037/gdn0000239
Objective: Treatment adherence, specifically attendance, is an important factor for clients to benefit from group-based treatments. However, little attention has been paid to understanding antecedents, particularly cultural factors, that may significantly impact clients’ attendance in group therapy. This study seeks to examine the impact of cultural subgrouping vis-à-vis identity-based faultlines based on member gender and racial–ethnic minority status on group members’ attendance rates and treatment completion. Method: Data for this study consisted of 358 clients from 61 interpersonal process therapy groups. Identity-based faultlines were created based on members’ reported gender and race. Results: Results indicated a significant and negative relationship between gendered racial faultline strength and member attendance rates and treatment completion, such that members of groups with a higher likelihood to subgroup based on member race and gender attended fewer group therapy sessions and had higher odds of not completing treatment. Group member race and gender significantly moderated the relationship between gendered racial faultline strength and treatment completion, such that the impact of gendered racial faultline strength on the odds of a group member completing treatment was stronger for women compared with men and racial–ethnic minority members compared with White members. Conclusions: Findings are discussed with attention to implications and recommendations for group therapy practice and training. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)