Abstract
Primary aim of project: to examine if Group Weariness (GW) exists, a concept defined as a n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s w o r k i n g i n g r o u p s b a s e d o n p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e s o f t h e w o r k i n g f o r m, and the meaning and consequences of the phenomenon. Secondary aim: to explore differences between those who experience GW and those who do not.
In the projects first part a factor analyzed questionnaire was developed to identify the attitude of GW, its relation to group and organizational variables and its psychosocial consequences. The study was conducted on 120 educationalists and headmasters at 4 different schools in Sweden. All statistics are non-parametric.
Results indicate: 1/ that the definition of group fatigue can be verified. Individuals exist who experience GW; 2/ the subjects experience pressure to work in groups; 3/ high pressure correlates with more frequent work in groups against the subject’s preferences; 4/ individuals who experience GW find the expectations demanding, while individuals who do not, interpret them as stimulating; 5/ a relation exists between negative psychosocial effects and negative attitudes towards working in groups; 6/ differences in psychosocial effects between individuals who experience GW and those who do not are not significant.
In a second study 65 persons in geriatric care and in psychiatry were studied with an improved questionnaire. Main results indicate: 1/ that GW is a reaction by the individual towards the working group and the organization; 2/ individuals experiencing GW dissociate themselves from groups, if possible, as a kind of self-preservation; 3/ a new attitude, group negativism, was differentiated from GW; 4/ a difference in attributing style between individuals experiencing GW and those who do not was identified.
In-depth interview studies exploring the subjective experience of GW and its consequences for psychosocial wellbeing are in preparation.
In the projects first part a factor analyzed questionnaire was developed to identify the attitude of GW, its relation to group and organizational variables and its psychosocial consequences. The study was conducted on 120 educationalists and headmasters at 4 different schools in Sweden. All statistics are non-parametric.
Results indicate: 1/ that the definition of group fatigue can be verified. Individuals exist who experience GW; 2/ the subjects experience pressure to work in groups; 3/ high pressure correlates with more frequent work in groups against the subject’s preferences; 4/ individuals who experience GW find the expectations demanding, while individuals who do not, interpret them as stimulating; 5/ a relation exists between negative psychosocial effects and negative attitudes towards working in groups; 6/ differences in psychosocial effects between individuals who experience GW and those who do not are not significant.
In a second study 65 persons in geriatric care and in psychiatry were studied with an improved questionnaire. Main results indicate: 1/ that GW is a reaction by the individual towards the working group and the organization; 2/ individuals experiencing GW dissociate themselves from groups, if possible, as a kind of self-preservation; 3/ a new attitude, group negativism, was differentiated from GW; 4/ a difference in attributing style between individuals experiencing GW and those who do not was identified.
In-depth interview studies exploring the subjective experience of GW and its consequences for psychosocial wellbeing are in preparation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |
| Event | The Xth European Congress of Psychology - Prague, Czechia Duration: 2007 Jul 3 → 2007 Jul 8 |
Conference
| Conference | The Xth European Congress of Psychology |
|---|---|
| Period | 2007/07/03 → 2007/07/08 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Psychology
Free keywords
- Group Negativism
- social psychology
- Group Weariness
- group
- attribution
- Grouop Fatigue
- psychosocial stress
- small group
- attitude
- team