Support Group Intervention Reduces Social Alienation and Loneliness among College Students with Victimization Experience

DOI

10.2991/iciap-18.2019.19How to use a DOI?

Keywords

support group, social alienation, loneliness, victimization, college students

Abstract

Victimization can have long-term effects, including bringing about a state of social alienation or loneliness. People with social alienation or loneliness may have difficulty initiating and maintaining social relationships, which then exacerbates the alienation and loneliness. If it is left untreated, other effects could result, such as depression, substance abuse, vandalism, and poor health. An intervention is needed to reduce the symptoms of social alienation and loneliness among the victimized. Several studies have shown that support groups can reduce such symptoms and that they help broaden social networks as well. This study tested the effectiveness of support group intervention program in reducing the symptoms of social alienation and loneliness among college students who have been victimized. This was a short program, consisting of only three sessions. During this program, participants were encouraged to talk about their negative social experiences and the difficulty they encounter in maintaining social relationships. They learned useful tips and skills to improve their interpersonal relationships, and communication skills. Certain methods were featured in this program, such as roleplay, group interview, snowball feedback, and home assignments. Eight college students aged 18 to 22 were selected to join the program. All of them had experienced victimization, including verbal, physical, and cyber bullying, as well as estrangement from friends and families. They also reported difficulties in interpersonal relationships due to the victimization. Six participants attended all sessions, and two could not. This study had a pre- and post-test, within-group design. To measure the degree of social alienation and loneliness among the participants, we used the Jessor and Jessor Social Alienation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Both scales were administered before the first session and immediately following the last one. The scores from the pre- and post-tests were compared using descriptive statistics to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Qualitative evaluations were also collected from all participants to describe changes among them after they joined the program. The pre- and post-test measurements revealed that all participants had reduced scores on the social alienation scale from the pre- to the post-test. On the loneliness scale, one participant had an increased score on the post-test, while the rest of the participants showed a decrease. This may have been the result of certain personal characteristics of this participant. Qualitative evaluations indicated that all participants had positive change in their social relationships and the way they perceived themselves after the program.

Copyright

© 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

Open Access

This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Download article (PDF)

TY  - CONF
AU  - Cut Maghfirah Faisal
AU  - Sherly Saragih Turnip
PY  - 2019/08
DA  - 2019/08
TI  - Support Group Intervention Reduces Social Alienation and Loneliness among College Students with Victimization Experience
BT  - Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Intervention and Applied Psychology (ICIAP 2018)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 228
EP  - 236
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/iciap-18.2019.19
DO  - 10.2991/iciap-18.2019.19
ID  - Faisal2019/08
ER  -