The Effects of Adolescent Sexual Offending Group Therapy on Shame, Masculinity, and Self-Compassion 

The Effects of Adolescent Sexual Offending Group Therapy on Shame, Masculinity, and Self-Compassion | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article The Effects of Adolescent Sexual Offending Group Therapy on Shame, Masculinity, and Self-Compassion Rachael Pascoe, Shelley Craig, Jill Levenson, Stephanie Begun, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 8 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Treatment for adolescents who have sexually offended, aimed at reducing risk and recidivism, must be specialized and distinct from adult sexual offending treatment (McPherson et al., 2024 ). Group therapy can offer psychoeducation to numerous clients concurrently, support youth in developing social skills, and enhance treatment engagement (Rich, 2011 ). A ims : This study presents the quantitative portion of a mixed methods explanatory sequential design to assess the Unite and Redefine group therapy program in reducing feelings of shame, endorse less hegemonically masculine constructs, and increase self-compassion. Methods This study concerns the quantitative survey portion of a larger mixed methods design. Participants were adolescent participants in treatment for sexual offending and attending. The community based Unite and Redefine Group Therapy program. Participants completed five scales on the first and last day of the twelve-week group. Results A total of nine participants (M age =16.89, SD = 1.17) completed both pretests and post-tests and demonstrated a diverse sample of youth. Participants demonstrated reductions in the masculinity ideology ( p < 0.05), guilt ( p < 0.05), and overidentification subscale ( p < 0.10). The participants also experienced an increase in pride ( p < 0.10) and therapeutic inventory factors ( p < 0.001). Although hypothesized, shame did not see a significant change, while shame and guilt were significantly higher than population norms. Discussion This study offers tentative quantitative support, despite limitations, for the Unite and Redefine group therapy, speaking to the importance of offering interventions that target factors beyond recidivism. adolescent sexual offending group therapy sexual offending interventions shame masculinity sexual offending treatment Introduction: Adolescent Sexual Offending Treatment Approximately one-third of all sexual offenses were committed by adolescents in the United States, according to a recent meta-analysis (Finklehor et al., 2009). In an American national sample of 13,052 children and youth, approximately 76.7% of male victim and 70.1% of female victims experienced sexual abuse and assault that was perpetuated by other adolescents (Gewirtz-Meydan & Finkelhor, 2020 ). In a meta-analysis of perpetrators’ identities in online sexual crimes against children, 44% of identified online offenders were under the age of 18 (Sutton & Finkelhor, 2023 ). Given the significant proportion of sexual violence enacted by adolescents (Gewirtz-Meydan & Finkelhor, 2024), comprehensive efforts to address this issue must include prevention and intervention efforts within this age group (Rothman, 2016). Furthermore, the adolescent sexual offending population requires different considerations than adult intervention models, given their consistently low sexual recidivism rates and public safety risk compared to adults (Lussier et al., 2024 ). Group Therapy for Adolescents who have Sexually Offended Adolescent sexual offending treatment is delivered in various formats, including individually and in groups (ATSA, 2017 a), with individual therapy offered in 94.8% of American community sexual offending treatment programs for adolescent males, while 69.4% of community agencies offering group therapy (McGrath et al., 2010 ). Group therapy is well-suited to adolescents, considering that this developmental period has an increased focus on social connection and educational settings socialize adolescents to work in groups (Malekoff, 2015 ). For adolescents in sexual offending treatment specifically, groups can facilitate a larger number of clients receiving psychoeducation concurrently than individual treatment, the development of social skills, and demonstration of enhanced engagement (Rich, 2011 ). Group-based interventions have been demonstrated to significantly reduce revidism rates among adolescents who have generally offended (Lipsey, 2009). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a common group modality, training participants to recognize cognitive distortions and identify situations that pose a risk to adolescent behaviour (McPherson et al., 2024 ). CBT groups can also help support clients in building resilience, healthy sexuality, consent, and communication (Kahn, 2023 ). For example, a CBT group therapy program for adolescents in a community treatment setting demonstrated a reduction in caregiver-reported internalizing problems at post-treatment, as well as anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and somatic complaints (Jenkins et al., 2020 ). However, the use of CBT in this population has been criticized for failing to address the determinants of adolescent sexual offending and the lack of rigorous efficacy research (Letourneau & Borduin, 2008 ). A systematic review concluded that CBT interventions were difficult to assess for efficacy because the treatment goals varied across different studies, and the formats of the programs varied (two out of four of which were group based) (Sneddon et al., 2020 ). Multi Systemic Therapy (MST) remains a promising treatment modality for adolescents who sexually offend as it includes interventions with the family environment in which youth live. MST is informed by Bronfenbrenner’s ( 2005 ) theory of social ecology and Minuchin’s ( 1985 ) family systems theory, that work to mitigate unwanted or harmful behavior by improving interactions between family members (Henggeler & Borduin, 1990 ). Youth who participated in a randomized control trial of MST, compared to CBT, found that youth engaging in MST demonstrated fewer emotional, behavioural problems, less self-reported delinquent behaviour, improved peer and family relations, and academic achievement in school (Borduin & Schaeffer, 2013 ; Borduin, et al., 2009 ). As well as lending support to the effectiveness of MST with adolescents who have sexually offended, this research demonstrates the importance of using a variety of measures in researching treatment approaches with this population. Group therapy offers psychoeducation but also encourages emotional processing, behavioural activation, and relationship building. Adolescents who have sexually offended have reported that group therapy was an important aspect of their treatment experience, ranking the most effective factors as: catharsis, group cohesion, self-understanding, interpersonal learning, instillation of hope, and family re-enactment (Sribney & Reddon, 2008 ). Sexual offending treatment approaches based on humanist and experiential therapeutic modalities, such as client-centered and Gestalt (a postmodern modality that focuses on client awareness), have been identified as clinical approaches warranting further attention (Bauman & Kopp, 2006 ). While it can be concluded that groups confer many benefits to the participants, little research has been conducted that examines adolescent sexual offending processing groups (Marshall & Burton, 2010) and its potential effects on emotions and identity development. The Contribution of Social Work to Sexual Offending Treatment Social work offers a multiple systems ecological perspective, in which the adolescent is viewed as an individual interacting with other complex systems that both influence their decision to offend and encompass the consequences of their offending behaviours. This ecological viewpoint is a necessary and important contribution to the adolescent sexual offending treatment landscape, as it can shift the focus and purpose of treatment from not only reducing recidivism, to other important factors, such as ensuring that adolescents live sexually healthy, hopeful, and productive lives. Although no recent research has determined the professional backgrounds of clinicians providing sexual offending specific therapy, according to the last sexual abuse treatment centre report to measure this, a significant proportion were social workers (McGrath et al., 2002 ). A recent survey of sexual abuse treatment providers found that only 9.02% of professionals surveyed were social workers (with a majority classifying themselves as clinical psychologists and counselors/therapists) (Calobrisi & Knight, 2025 ). As well, the social work field is not as widely represented in sexual offending research. As such, social work perspectives should be captured in the literature so that the meaningful treatment approaches can be shared with the wider practice and research communities and to legitimize a clinical evidence base. Current Intervention: Unite and Redefine Described in previous publications (authors 2022; 2019 ), the Unite and Redefine Group Therapy Intervention was offered by a small community agency in Southwestern Ontario, serving the Greater Toronto Area. The Unite and Redefine intervention consisted of 12 sessions online, using Zoom Webconferencing for Healthcare. Expertise for offering online groups was built by the researchers’ previous experience in offering online groups to vulnerable adolescent populations (authors, 2021). Unite and Redefine included psychoeducational and processing components, with the facilitators modelling and prompting support-giving, empathy, and reflective listening to the group members. Group content was based on the three phases of the group: 1) Shifting shame, 2) Expanding Masculinity, and 3) Fostering Self Compassion. Session materials, and one group facilitator, remained consistent across the three sessions included in this research, for treatment fidelity. Present Study Group therapy is an important adolescent sexual offending therapy approach that should be studied for its outcomes beyond recidivism. It is the aim of the present study to assess the Unite and Redefine group therapy treatment program that supports adolescents in reducing feelings of shame, endorse less hegemonically masculine constructs, and increase self-compassion. Methods This intervention research used a mixed methods explanatory sequential design, with a first phase of quantitative pre- and post- surveys, detailed here. The qualitative phase and mixed methods results will be detailed in future publications. This quantitative study utilizes a quasi-experimental research design, analyzing pre- and post- survey measures for statistical difference. Recruitment Clients of community adolescent sexual offending treatment were referred to Unite and Redefine by their primary therapists if they met some basic inclusion criteria, including clients currently receiving treatment for sexual offending (mandated or having elected to attend) and considered appropriate for group therapy by their individual treating therapist (for example, suitably prosocial and able to appropriately engage in a group context). Clients were invited to participate in the research prior to the beginning of the group, which included pre- and post- test surveys and an interview after the completion of group. The importance and impact of research in the specialist area of youth sexual offending was described to potential participants, and questions about the research process were answered. Data Collection Ethical approval was received for this research from the Blinded Research Ethics Board and the Research Ethics Committee of the agency at which the research was conducted. Demographic measures were collected through a client extraction form that was filled out by the client’s therapist and PI, after participant written consent was obtained. To promote equity, participants were offered an opportunity to attend these meetings with their clinicians, or to view the demographic responses. During the first session of the group, time was allocated for participants to complete quantitative pretests for the research online using IntakeQ, a PHIPA compliant online platform with survey capability. The same measures were provided to the participants at the end of the group, and time was allocated in the final session for them to complete the post-tests. Participants were provided with a $ 10 gift card for the pretest and a $ 20 gift card for the post-test. Quantitative Measures The four standardized pre- and post-test survey measures consisted of: The State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS) (Tangney & Dearing, 2002 ). The SSGS is a self-rating scale of the participant’s current feelings of shame, guilt, and pride experiences, and was developed based on theoretical and experimental psychology literature. The Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (The AMIRS) (Chu, et al., 2005 ). The AMIRS measures the extent of alignment by adolescent males to hegemonic masculinity ideals, specifically within relationships. Masculine Discrepancy Stress Scale (MDSS) (Reidy et al., 2014 ). Masculine discrepancy stress results from failing to adhere to socially-defined masculinity norms (Reidy et al., 2014 ). The Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, 2003 ). The Self-Compassion Scale was developed to measure three components of self-compassion through the subscales: self-kindness vs. judgement, common humanity vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. over-identification. The Therapeutic Factor Inventory-8 (TFI-8) (Tasca et al., 2016 ). The TFI-8 is intended to provide a brief, reliasble, and valid measure of group process quality. This is a recommended measure of cohesion in sexual abuse treatment groups (Jennings & Deming, 2017 ). Data Analysis Analysis of survey results was conducted using SPSS Version 27. The sample size (N = 11, n pretest =11, n postest =9) was low due to the highly specialized population and limited research duration. Descriptive analysis of demographic data was conducted, along with paired sample t-tests to determine changes (i.e., statistically significant increases, decreases, or static results at post-test) in the measures for internalized shame, masculinity ideology, self-compassion, and therapeutic inventories. The paired-samples t-test was used to assess statistical differences, or changes, between two time points within the same sample to evaluate the effects of the intervention. This test was chosen as it reduced error and within-group variance by accounting for individual differences between subjects and has been used in similar studies with this population (Borduin et al., 1990 ; Jenkins et al., 2020 ). Post-hoc analysis included a correlation analysis of the measures and the calculation of effect sizes for the paired sample t tests, estimated by calculating Hedges’ g (which has less of a small sample bias than Cohen’s d ). Results Descriptive Statistics of Demographic and Offending Information Of the 11 participants recruited to participate in Unite and Redefine, 9 participants completed pre and post tests. Missing data was addressed through pairwise deletion. Demographic information of the participants is presented in Table 1 . The group was well attended, with participants attending an average of 9.56 groups (SD = 1.67), with a range from 7 sessions to all 12 attended by participants in the quantitative portion of the research. Participants demonstrated racial and sexual diversity in this sample (M age =16.89, SD = 1.17), with 4 participants identifying as White (44.4%), 2 as Black (22.2%), and 1 participant as Arab, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian (11.1% each). Out of the nine participants, five identified as straight at the time of the study (55.6%), 3 as bisexual (33.3%) and 1 as gay (11.1%). Seven participants identified as cismale (77.8%), while one participant identified as two-spirit (11.1%) and another as nonbinary (11.1%). Participants ranged in grade level, with three participants in each category of grade 10 (33.3%), three in 11 (33.3%), and three in postsecondary (33.3%). On average, participants had spent 7.28 months in treatment, with a large standard deviation of 7.35 months. Most participants did not have caregivers involved in treatment, defined as attending group therapy, family therapy, or providing support for their sons while in treatment (77.8%), while two participants did have active caregiver involvement in treatment (22.2%). The average age of the first offense for participants was 14.33 (SD = 1.32) and most participants had one known victim, with only one participant having two known victims. Offending type varied but included 4 categories of sexual offenses against same-age peers (44.4%), 3 against siblings (33.3%), 2 against other family members (22.2%), and one online offense (11.1%). Table 1 Descriptive Statistics of Demographic and Offending Information N Percent M SD Attendance (Out of 12 Sessions) 9 9.56 1.67 Age 9 16.89 1.17 Race/Ethnicity Arab 1 11.1 Black 2 22.2 Indigenous 1 11.1 Southeast Asian 1 11.1 White 4 44.4 Sexual Orientation Gay 1 11.1 Bisexual 3 33.3 Straight 5 55.6 Gender Identity Cismale 7 77.8 Two-spirit 1 11.1 nonbinary 1 11.1 Education Grade 10 3 33.3 Grade 11 3 33.3 Post-Secondary 3 33.3 Time in Treatment (months) 9 7.28 7.35 Caregiver Involvement caregivers involved 2 22.2 Caregivers not involved 7 77.8 Age at time of first offense 9 14.33 1.32 Number of known victims 9 1.00 0.5 Type of Offense (non-mutually exclusive categories) Sibling 3 33.3 Intrafamilial 2 22.2 Peer 4 44.4 Online 1 11.1 Risk Rating (ERASOR Score) Low 5 55.6 Medium 4 44.4 High 0 0 Referral Source Self-referred 1 11.1 Probation 5 55.6 Children’s Aid Society 3 33.3 Number of group sessions attended 8.18 3.82 Correlation Analysis A correlation analysis was performed using the time 2 post-test data, yielding several statistically significant relationships (Table 2 ). The choice to use post-test data for the correlation analysis, instead of change scores, was to avoid potential conflation of the intervention effects with baseline (e.g. pretest data), resulting in elucidating the relationship between scores, separate from the effects of the intervention (Tennant et al., 2022 ). Furthermore, the use of post test scores have been demonstrated to provide a more accurate representation of correlational relationships, as change scores have been demonstrated to be correlated with the baseline pretest scores due to regression to the mean, potentially causing spurious findings (Clifton & Clifton, 2019 ). Several findings are noted, with consideration to the significant results of the paired sample t -test. The Self-Compassion subscale item of Overidentification demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship with the State Shame and Guilt subscales of shame (r = 0.696, p < 0.10) and pride (r=-0.828, p < 0.01). The direction of the relationship between overidentification and pride is strongly negative (0.5< | r |), indicating that an increase in pride is related to a decrease in overidentification. This relationship was observed in the pre- and post- t -test analysis as pride significantly increased and overidentification significantly decreased over the course of the intervention. The Pride subscale also had a strong, positive, significant relationship with the masculinity scales, AMIRS ( r = 0.759, p < 0.05) and MDDS ( r = 0.75, p < 0.05), indicating that traditionally masculine views or increased masculinity stress may be related to participants’ pride in themselves. The SSGS subscale for guilt was positively and strongly correlated with Treatment Factors Inventory (TFI-5) ( r = 0.68, p < 0.05), demonstrating that an increase in feelings of guilt is correlated to experiences of greater group connection. Finally, the TFI-5 was also significantly and positively correlated with MDSS ( r = 0.75, p < 0.05), demonstrating a strong relationship. In conclusion, an increase in reported pride, guilt, and anxiety about masculinity adherence, respectively, is correlated to an increase in feelings of group cohesion is correlated to for participants of the Unite and Redefine group therapy program. Paired-Sample t-tests Pre- and post-test psychometric scales were analyzed on SPSS using a paired sample t -test (see Table 3 ). 9 participants completed post-test measures and were included in the paired sample t test. Masculinity Measures Participants demonstrated no change in masculinity ideology as defined by The Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (AMIRS) with the pre-score mean of 1.806 (SD = 0.38) and a post-test mean of 1.808 (SD = 0.45), t (8)=-0.021, p = 0.492, r = 0.41. The Masculine Discrepancy Stress and Psychosocial Maladjustment (MDSS) demonstrated a significant decrease from pre- (M = 16.89, SD = 5.16) to post-test (M = 14.0, SD = 5.39, t (8) = 2.60, p = 0.016, r = 0.782), suggesting that youth experienced less stress in relationship to their conceptualizations of masculinity at the end of the group when compared to the start. State Shame and Guilt Scale The State Shame and Guilt Scale yielded an insignificant decrease in the shame subscale from pre- (M = 15.78, SD = 3.70) to post-test (M = 13.0, SD = 4.90, t (8) = 1.294, p = 0.116, r = 0.39). However, the guilt subscale significantly decreased ( p < 0.05) from pre- (M = 20.0, SD = 3.94) to post-test (M = 17.78, SD = 4.47, t (8) = 2.229, p = 0.028, r = 0.671), demonstrating that participants reported feeling less guilt by the end of the group. The pride subscale also significantly increased ( p < 0.10) from pre- (M = 13.0, SD = 3.67) to post-test (M = 15.44, SD = 3.78, t (8)=-1.571, p = 0.077, Table 2 Correlations of Study Variables Variable n M SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1. AMIRS 9 1.81 0.45 - 2. Masculine Discrepancy Stress Scale 9 14.00 5.39 0.17 - 3. SCS Self-Kindness Subscale 9 2.38 0.84 0.69* -0.12 - 4. SCS Self-Judgement Subscale 9 3.47 1.08 -0.63 0.16 -0.60 - 5. SCS Common Humanity Subscale 9 2.46 0.97 0.49 0.52 0.67* -0.55 - 6. SCS Isolation Subscale 9 3.44 1.06 -0.44 0.42 -0.60 0.89** -0.58 - 7. SCS Mindfulness Subscale 9 2.61 0.59 0.13 -0.54 0.68* -0.22 0.52 -0.50 - 8. SCS Over-identified subscale 9 3.39 0.75 -0.65 0.16 -0.78* 0.90** -0.48 0.76* -0.39 - 9. SCS Total 9 2.52 0.74 0.66 -0.21 0.86** -0.90** 0.76* -0.90** 0.60 0.90** - 10. SSGS Shame Subscale 9 13.00 4.90 -0.58 0.50 -0.73* 0.62 -0.50 0.70* -0.72* 0.70* -0.78* - 11. SSGS Guilt Subscale 9 17.78 4.47 -0.26 0.60 -0.11 0.58 -0.06 0.48 -0.22 0.56 -0.42 -0.24 - 12. SSGS Pride Subscale 9 15.44 3.78 0.76* -0.098 0.93** -0.71* 0.67* -067 0.123 -0.83** 0.88** 0.68* 0.113 - 13. TFI-8 Total Score 9 35.00 8.51 0.31 0.75* 0.26 0.30 0.36 0.36 -0.04 0.24 -0.07 0.62 -0.10 0.75* - *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 (2-tailed) r = 5.17), demonstrating that participants experienced greater feelings of pride in themselves and their accomplishments by the end of the group. Self-Compassion Scale Participants did not experience a significant change in the overall self-compassion score. The mean insignificantly increased from pre- (M = 2.45, SD = 0.58) to post-test (M = 2.52, SD = 0.74), t (8)=-0.393, p = 0.352, r = 0.59 [Hedge’s Correction]). According to the Self-Compassion Scale psychometric guide, scores between 2.5–3.5 indicate moderate self-compassion (Neff, 2003 ). In an examination of the six subscales, the five subscales: kindness, judgement, common humanity, isolation, and mindfulness changed insignificantly, with mindfulness specifically remaining the same from pre- to post- test t (8) = 0.00, p = 0.500. The sixth subscale, overidentification, demonstrated a marginally significant reduction from pre- (M = 3.81, SD = 0.85) to post-test (M = 3.39, SD = 0.75, t (8) = 1.622, p = 0.072, r = 0.85). The overidentification subscale referred to questions such as “when something upsets me I get carried away with my feelings” and “when I’m feeling down I tend to obsess and fixate on everything that’s wrong”. Overidentification refers to focusing on one’s suffering, while experiencing more self-compassion results in decreased overidentification in situations where one perceives failures (Neff & Tóth-Király, 2022 ). Therapeutic Inventory Scale Group process quality was measured using the Therapeutic Factor Inventory Scale (TFI-8), a brief version of the original TFI-99 (Tasca, et al., 2016 ). This measure was found to have significantly increased from pre- (M = 28.22, SD = 9.26) to post-test (M = 35, SD = 8.51, t (8)=-2.952, p = 0.009, r =-0.888), demonstrating an increased sense of cohesion and emotional closeness between group members throughout the group process. Table 3 Paired Sample t-tests (n = 9) Scale Subscale Time 1 Time 2 Mean SD SE Mean SD SE t (8) Hedge’s d Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationship Scale (AMIRS) 1.81 0.38 0.13 1.81 0.45 0.15 -0.021 -0.006 Masculine Discrepancy Stress Scale (MDSS) 16.89 5.16 1.72 14.00 5.39 1.80 2.6** 0.78 State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS) Shame Subscale 15.78 3.70 1.23 13.00 4.90 1.63 1.29 0.39 Guilt Subscale 20.00 3.94 1.31 17.78 4.47 1.49 2.22** 0.67 Pride Subscale 13.00 3.67 1.22 15.44 3.78 1.26 0.08* -0.47 Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) 2.45 0.58 0.19 2.52 0.74 0.25 -0.39 -0.12 Self-Kindness Subscale 2.36 0.63 0.21 2.38 0.84 0.28 -0.14 -0.04 Self-Judgement Subscale 3.58 0.92 0.31 3.47 1.08 0.36 0.39 0.12 Common Humanity Subscale 2.75 0.87 0.29 2.46 0.97 0.32 1.27 0.38 Isolation Subscale 3.61 0.86 0.29 3.44 1.06 0.35 0.54 0.38 Mindfulness Subscale 2.61 0.73 0.24 2.61 0.59 0.20 0.00 0.00 Overidentified subscale 3.81 0.85 0.28 3.39 0.75 0.25 1.62* 0.49 Therapeutic Inventory Factors (TFI-5) 28.22 9.26 3.09 35.00 8.51 2.84 -2.95*** -0.89 *p < 0.10, **p < 0.05, ***p < 0.0 Discussion The present study offers tentative quantitative support for the group therapy program, Unite and Redefine, with adolescents who have sexually offended, who are also participating in individual therapy to address client-specific treatment goals. Most research on adolescent sexual offending treatment groups have applied cognitive behavioural therapy modalities, demonstrated to address recidivism and deviant sexual arousal (Walker et al., 2004 ), but do not necessarily address other important treatment goals such as masculinity and self-compassion. This research addresses this gap by targetting components beyond recidivism or sexual arousal. Masculinity This study did not find a significant difference between pre- and post-test in regard to hegemonically masculine beliefs, with the results demonstrating a relatively stable score and very low effect size (Hedge’s d of -0.006). Given the overwhelming representation of males in adolescent delinquency and sexual violence (Farr et al., 2004 ; Reilly et al., 2004 ), the construct of masculinity is an important consideration in addressing sexual offending behaviour. Belief in hegemonic masculinity constructs has been demonstrated to be related to engagement in general delinquent behaviour (Hunter, 2004 ) and hypermasculinity measures are endorsed by a cluster of adolescents who sexually offend and tend to demonstrate anti-social tendencies (Parent et al., 2024 ). Messerschmidt ( 2000 ) postulated that sexual violence can be an avenue to overcome internal masculinity challenges for adolescent males, establishing that futher research is needed to explore this relationship. There is some support for a relationship between feelings of masculinity inadequacy and sexual violence (Zakireh et al., 2008 ). However, Brown and Burton ( 2010 ) found that masculinity construct beliefs are higher for youth who engage in general delinquency along with sexual offenses compared to youth who exclusively sexually offend. Thus, further research is needed to fully determine the relationship between sexual violence and masculinity. This study has demonstrated that beliefs in masculinity constructs did not significantly change as a result of group, perhaps indicating that the difficulty of addressing hegemonic masculinity clinically. However, masculine discrepancy stress, or stress related to not being perceived as prescribing to one’s assigned gender (Reidy et al., 2014 ), appears to have reduced significantly, with a large effect size. Masculinity distress has been found to be linked to maladjustment, substance use, trauma, and engagement in violence (Reidy et al., 2018). Conformity to prescribed gender roles was associated with behavioural or mental health factors, such as engagement in violence, making masculine gender role distress a factor in adolescent male behavioural outcomes (Reidy et al., 2018). The results of the current study and previous literature support that adolescents who have sexually offended may be best served by clinical interventions that specifically address masculinity discrepancy and its relationship to violent behaviours. Altering an adolescent’s lifetime of engrained and internalized masculinity concepts may not be possible within a 12-week treatment timeframe, resulting in the null hypothesis found in this study. However, the intervention may be a starting point for group members to engage in dialogue surrounding hegemonically masculine norms and their impact. Indeed, participants may be more willing and able to engage in these discussions if masculinity distress dissipates, which was demonstarted to have resulted during group treatment. One unexpected finding from this study was the significant correlation between masculinity distress and group therapeutic factors, which may demonstrate a social process as a result of the socialization of boys and men. In particular, this may demonstrate the presence of homosociality, or the social bonds formed between people of the same sex based on shared gender attributes, such as hegemonic masculinity (Hammarén & Johansson, 2014 ). Another explanation may be that group participants became more cohesive as the group continued and were able to openly discuss issues surrounding their masculinity anxiety, a phenomenon that was observed by the group facilitators, and detailed in the qualitative portion of this project. Participants’ engagement with masculinity and emotionality will be further explored in the qualitative portion of this research. A decrease in masculine gender role discrepancy resulted in more positive mental health, with masculinity conceptualization serving as a mediating factor for more masculinity beliefs (Mesler et al., 2021 ). This study lends support to the possibility that masculinity distress can be addressed through group content about masculinity, providing opportunities for group processing, and demonstrating vulnerability (Jewkes et al., 2015 ). Masculinity distress did see a significant reduction over the intervention, which could result in a lowered engagement in violence (Baugher & Gazmararian, 2015 ). Therefore, this is an important construct to measure in research and address in practice. Shame, Guilt, and Pride One of the important targets for the Unite and Redefine intervention was shame reduction through decreased isolation and increased emotional processing as a group. While self-reported shame did decrease, it did so insignificantly. Internalized shame has several adverse health effects on the general population, such as anger and aggression (Elison et al., 2014 ; Tangney & Dearing, 2002 ), as well as serving as an impediment to treatment (Oluyori, 2013 ). Addressing shame can be incorporated into common interventions for adolescent sexual offending, such as cognitive reframing, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and mindfulness, although the active ingredients of these interventions that specifically target shame still require elucidation (Goffnett et al., 2020 ). Shame is common emotional experience for those who have sexually offended (Blagden et al., 2017 ), and a common treatment target (Marshall, et al. 2009 ). Interventions specifically targetting shame in adult sexual offending groups found that while participants are able to reframe non-offending sexual behaviours as an opportunity to learn and redirect behaviours, they still engage in negative self-talk, and self-forgiveness that may reduce accountability when applied to sexual offending (Mullins & Kirkwood, 2019 ). Shame is a complex emotion that may require longer-term work to fully address clinically. Although shame was not demonstrated to significantly decrease, the overidentification subscale from the SCS did significantly decrease from time 1 to time 2. Overidentification is understood to be a strong moderator in the relationship between feeling like an imposter and interpersonal shame, which can be buffered from resiliency offered by increased self-compassion (Wei et al., 2020 ). Over-identification is also an important factor to target in the treatment of shame and hypersexual behaviours (Phillips et al., 2019 ). The present study demonstrated a correlation between shame on the SSGS and overidentificiation on the SCS. Therefore, although shame did not significantly decrease, overidentification did decrease and appears to be an important factor to target in the treatment of shame for adolescents who have sexually offended. Guilt was found to have significantly decreased over the intervention. While shame is defined as a self-conscious feeling in which an individual evaluates themselves negatively against a defined set of social rules of behaviour (Lewis, 1995 ), guilt involves the feeling of negatively appraising one’s engagement in a specific behaviour (Tangney, 1995 ). Guilt is positively correlated to empathy, while shame is negatively correlated to compassion (Tangney, 1991 ). Therefore, a reduction in guilt may not be a result that would be expected or sought in adolescent sexual offending treatment. As guilt is considered to become maladaptive when it becomes merged with shame (Tangney, 1995 ), it is clinically necessary to identify the experience of maladaptive guilt, and to support clients in more efficacious expressions of the guilt emotion that can effectuate accountability and clarification. The pride subscale of the SSGS saw a moderately significant improvement. The pride subscale measures feeling worthwhile, valuable, effective, and good about one’s self. In research on both sexually offending adults and adolescents, having a sense of pride in one’s treatment accomplishments is an important variable in living offense-free according to research on adults (Harris et al., 2019 ) and adolescents who had sexually offended (Aylwin et al., 2005 ; McCamey, 2010 ). Research has found that adolescents engaged in delinquency tend to have diminished ability to experience guilt and shame, and an increased capacity for pride (Schalkwijk et al., 2017 ), while pride in delinquency predicts reoffending behaviour, aggression, and substance use (Skilling & Sorge, 2014 ). Additionally, it should be noted that pride in therapeutic accomplishment would have been salient to the group members at the time of posttest, which was delivered after they were affirmed for their accomplishment during the last group celebratory session. Self-Compassion The overall SCS was not found to have changed significantly in this study and the only subscale that did significantly decrease was over-identification. The mindfulness subscale score did not change at all from time 1 to time 2. Although self-compassion is not a well studied phenomenon for adolescents who have sexually offended, it has been found to be a predictor for personal distress, shame, and social functioning (Lo, 2007 ). Self-compassion may be an important component of adolescent sexual offending treatment given this population’s social functioning deficits and propensity for isolation (Seto & Lalumiére, 2010 ), however the focus of treatment tends to be related to identifying and challenging cognitive distortions and behaviours supportive of sexual offending (Worling et al., 2011 ). Although a richer understanding of self-compassion was not garnered from this study, further intervention research should evaluate its effects on empathy and the role it can play in adolescent sexual offending treatment. Limitations An important limitation to consider in the interpretation of these results is the small sample size (n = 9) and limited statistical power. Small sample size is common in research involving adolescents who have sexually offended, a population that is difficult to access due to the sensitivity and stigma surrounding the topic (Korngiebel et al., 2015 ; Rodriguez, 2017). While the small sample size is similar to previous research with this population (Borduin et al., 1990 ; Kettrey & Lipsey, 2018 ; Mazur & Michael, 1992 ; ter Beek et al., 2018 ), future research should aim for larger samples and longer timeframes. Multiple t-tests and lack of a control group further limit causal conclusions. Although efforts were made to mitigate these limitations (e.g., using Hedge’s g and a quasi-experimental design), the lack of a comparison group restricts the ability to attribute changes solely to the Unite and Redefine program (Letourneau & Borduin, 2008 ). One measure, the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale, showed low reliability (α = 0.55), possibly due to participant interpretation or sample characteristics (Pickett et al., 2020 ). Participants received both group and individual therapy concurrently, so findings should be interpreted in the context of combined treatment. Treatment fidelity was not formally measured; however, consistency was maintained through a standardized curriculum and the same facilitator (the PI) across all three online group iterations. Demographic data were collected from individual therapists rather than clients to avoid duplicating sensitive questions, but this may have affected accuracy regarding dynamic identity factors (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation). Conversely, therapist reports may be more reliable due to rapport and access to collateral sources (e.g., court reports). While participants were invited to co-complete extraction forms with therapists, none opted in. This study also marks the first online implementation of Unite and Redefine, required by COVID-19 restrictions. Adjustments were made to transition the group to a virtual format, and only online groups were included to ensure consistency. Finally, as the PI also served as the group facilitator and sometimes individual therapist, social desirability bias may have influenced participants’ responses, mitigated through de-identification. Application to Social Work Practice This research highlights the potential of Unite and Redefine as a valuable group therapy intervention for adolescents who have sexually offended. Unite and Redefine aligns with social justice principles, supporting healing, while offering the unique benefits of group-based modalities such as empathy development, emotional expression, peer feedback, and leadership opportunities (Yoder, 2014 ). Psychoeducation on masculinity should be integrated into treatment, acknowledging the complexity and time required for adolescents to fully engage with these concepts. Addressing masculinity discrepancy, particularly through media literacy and peer discussions, can be effective in both group and individual therapy. Group settings offer validation and modeling that help challenge rigid gender norms. Given the central role of shame in the healing process (Shapiro & Powers, 2011 ), group therapy should remain a space for addressing and transforming shame into constructive growth through group member social interaction. Clinicians should foster pride in group participants by validating accomplishments, helping participants develop a positive sense of self. Mindfulness, a core aspect of self-compassion, showed limited change in participants, suggesting a need for increased focus on mindfulness-based activities. Helping youth differentiate themselves from their offending behaviors may serve as an entry point to practicing self-compassion and reducing shame. Finally, Effective facilitation of adolescent sexual offending groups requires specialized training. Facilitators must skillfully manage developmental needs, group dynamics, and the balance between empathy and accountability (Jennings & Sawyer, 2021 ). Success of the Unite and Redefine program is tied to the cultivation of group therapeutic factors, dependent on expert facilitation (Jennings & Deming, 2017 ). Social Work Research Implications Findings of this research support continued data collection on group therapy programs, especially examining long-term outcomes and sustainability of change. Importantly, research on treatment for adolescent sexual offending should continue to capture psychological constructs such as shame, guilt, masculinity, and self-compassion. Other factors to identify include attrition, disengagement, or unsuitability to group treatment. Qualitative approaches, like those in the second portion of this research, can provide deeper insight into participant lived experiences with key therapeutic concepts. Though masculinity was not significantly correlated with outcomes in this study, prior research suggests a link worth exploring (Brown & Burton, 2010 ). Future studies should further examine masculinity discrepancy, particularly the observed decrease in anxiety around gender presentation. Qualitative and quantitative methods are needed to understand how gender-related anxiety affects treatment outcomes. More research is needed on how shame can be reduced in this population and whether this supports therapeutic progress. Pride also emerged as a key finding; future work should differentiate pride in therapeutic progress and explore its relationship to shame reduction and treatment engagement. Self-compassion remains an under-researched yet promising treatment focus. Further study is needed to explore its link to victim empathy and overall treatment success. The observed connection between self-compassion and shame (particularly overidentification) suggests potential for intervention strategies targeting this relationship. Conclusion Key findings of this novel research revealed a reduction in masculinity discrepancy stress, although no change was observed in masculinity ideology in relationships. Contrary to expectations, shame did not significantly decrease; however, participants reported reduced guilt and increased pride. Self-compassion overall did not improve, except for a significant decrease in overidentification, a subscale linked to shame, suggesting its potential clinical importance. Additionally, Therapeutic Inventories increased over the course of the program, indicating the creation of group cohesion throughout the group sessions. These results provide promising support for Unite and Redefine specifically, and group therapy for adolescents who sexually offend, more broadly. Given the widespread use of group therapy with this population (McGrath et al., 2010 ), further research is essential to assess the effectiveness of these programs in meeting both clinical goals and holistic needs. Group-based interventions that address broader developmental issues may be particularly effective, offering opportunities for peer learning, emotional expression, and behavior modeling in a cohesive, supportive environment. Continued research is necessary to evaluate and refine such programs, with the aim of developing evidence-based best practices that view adolescents who have sexually offended as capable of growth and healing, and that support their development into sexually healthy and respectful adults. Declarations Author Contribution Rachael Pascoe (RP) served as the Principal Investigator and lead author for this study. RP was responsible for the research design, ethics applications, data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and the preparation of all manuscript drafts. SL served as RP’s doctoral supervisor and provided ongoing mentorship, guidance on methodological design, and substantive feedback throughout the development, analysis, and writing of the study. JL and SB served as internal committee members who contributed to the refinement of the study design, offered critical feedback during data interpretation, and provided detailed editorial input on multiple manuscript iterations. JY served as the external committee member and contributed expert guidance on the study’s conceptual framing and methodological rigor. JY’s specialized insight provided invaluable contributions to the interpretation of findings and the overall strengthening of the manuscript.All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for the work presented. Acknowledgement The authors wish to acknowledge the clients who participated in this study, the support of the hosting agency in conducting this research, and the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and the IASWG SPARC Grant, which financially supported the corresponding author in conducting this research. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8207709","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":554218539,"identity":"bba1ed34-8806-4151-84fb-a9ba458ddcf7","order_by":0,"name":"Rachael 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Toronto","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shelley","middleName":"","lastName":"Craig","suffix":""},{"id":554218541,"identity":"9ce76e2e-2efa-43ff-aed5-39f3772fc2ba","order_by":2,"name":"Jill Levenson","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Barry University, United States","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jill","middleName":"","lastName":"Levenson","suffix":""},{"id":554218542,"identity":"6b44c376-876d-421e-b7e6-abaa4c639a81","order_by":3,"name":"Stephanie Begun","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Toronto","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Stephanie","middleName":"","lastName":"Begun","suffix":""},{"id":554218543,"identity":"52074cbe-94f0-413e-bd86-7eaf6b50526e","order_by":4,"name":"Jamie Yoder","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Colorado State University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jamie","middleName":"","lastName":"Yoder","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-11-26 02:23:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":97436726,"identity":"f3a89a8a-3b15-4594-bf49-2fef8c55568f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-04 11:14:11","extension":"docx","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":83173,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"BlindedTheEffectsofAdolescentSexualOffendingGroupTherapyonShameMasculinityandSelfCompassion.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8207709/v1/58dab197861ad7714b2f402e.docx"},{"id":97666734,"identity":"ba5e21ed-3ffa-4692-891c-173a71ecea1e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-08 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11:14:11","extension":"html","order_by":7,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"acdc-reference","size":255547,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"earlyproof.html","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8207709/v1/e449973ec3d90fc462eb556c.html"},{"id":97677685,"identity":"5a64ffb7-beb1-4c5a-823f-a2a526f607b9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-08 09:54:03","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1191496,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8207709/v1/22eafcdf-1dc3-4488-8a05-663ea0d34a2a.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"The Effects of Adolescent Sexual Offending Group Therapy on Shame, Masculinity, and Self-Compassion ","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction: Adolescent Sexual Offending Treatment","content":"\u003cp\u003eApproximately one-third of all sexual offenses were committed by adolescents in the United States, according to a recent meta-analysis (Finklehor et al., 2009). In an American national sample of 13,052 children and youth, approximately 76.7% of male victim and 70.1% of female victims experienced sexual abuse and assault that was perpetuated by other adolescents (Gewirtz-Meydan \u0026amp; Finkelhor, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). In a meta-analysis of perpetrators\u0026rsquo; identities in online sexual crimes against children, 44% of identified online offenders were under the age of 18 (Sutton \u0026amp; Finkelhor, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). Given the significant proportion of sexual violence enacted by adolescents (Gewirtz-Meydan \u0026amp; Finkelhor, 2024), comprehensive efforts to address this issue must include prevention and intervention efforts within this age group (Rothman, 2016). Furthermore, the adolescent sexual offending population requires different considerations than adult intervention models, given their consistently low sexual recidivism rates and public safety risk compared to adults (Lussier et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eGroup Therapy for Adolescents who have Sexually Offended\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdolescent sexual offending treatment is delivered in various formats, including individually and in groups (ATSA, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003ea), with individual therapy offered in 94.8% of American community sexual offending treatment programs for adolescent males, while 69.4% of community agencies offering group therapy (McGrath et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Group therapy is well-suited to adolescents, considering that this developmental period has an increased focus on social connection and educational settings socialize adolescents to work in groups (Malekoff, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). For adolescents in sexual offending treatment specifically, groups can facilitate a larger number of clients receiving psychoeducation concurrently than individual treatment, the development of social skills, and demonstration of enhanced engagement (Rich, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Group-based interventions have been demonstrated to significantly reduce revidism rates among adolescents who have generally offended (Lipsey, 2009).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a common group modality, training participants to recognize cognitive distortions and identify situations that pose a risk to adolescent behaviour (McPherson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). CBT groups can also help support clients in building resilience, healthy sexuality, consent, and communication (Kahn, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). For example, a CBT group therapy program for adolescents in a community treatment setting demonstrated a reduction in caregiver-reported internalizing problems at post-treatment, as well as anxiety, depression, withdrawal, and somatic complaints (Jenkins et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). However, the use of CBT in this population has been criticized for failing to address the determinants of adolescent sexual offending and the lack of rigorous efficacy research (Letourneau \u0026amp; Borduin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). A systematic review concluded that CBT interventions were difficult to assess for efficacy because the treatment goals varied across different studies, and the formats of the programs varied (two out of four of which were group based) (Sneddon et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMulti Systemic Therapy (MST) remains a promising treatment modality for adolescents who sexually offend as it includes interventions with the family environment in which youth live. MST is informed by Bronfenbrenner\u0026rsquo;s (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e) theory of social ecology and Minuchin\u0026rsquo;s (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1985\u003c/span\u003e) family systems theory, that work to mitigate unwanted or harmful behavior by improving interactions between family members (Henggeler \u0026amp; Borduin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e). Youth who participated in a randomized control trial of MST, compared to CBT, found that youth engaging in MST demonstrated fewer emotional, behavioural problems, less self-reported delinquent behaviour, improved peer and family relations, and academic achievement in school (Borduin \u0026amp; Schaeffer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e; Borduin, et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). As well as lending support to the effectiveness of MST with adolescents who have sexually offended, this research demonstrates the importance of using a variety of measures in researching treatment approaches with this population.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup therapy offers psychoeducation but also encourages emotional processing, behavioural activation, and relationship building. Adolescents who have sexually offended have reported that group therapy was an important aspect of their treatment experience, ranking the most effective factors as: catharsis, group cohesion, self-understanding, interpersonal learning, instillation of hope, and family re-enactment (Sribney \u0026amp; Reddon, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). Sexual offending treatment approaches based on humanist and experiential therapeutic modalities, such as client-centered and Gestalt (a postmodern modality that focuses on client awareness), have been identified as clinical approaches warranting further attention (Bauman \u0026amp; Kopp, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). While it can be concluded that groups confer many benefits to the participants, little research has been conducted that examines adolescent sexual offending processing groups (Marshall \u0026amp; Burton, 2010) and its potential effects on emotions and identity development.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eThe Contribution of Social Work to Sexual Offending Treatment\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSocial work offers a multiple systems ecological perspective, in which the adolescent is viewed as an individual interacting with other complex systems that both influence their decision to offend and encompass the consequences of their offending behaviours. This ecological viewpoint is a necessary and important contribution to the adolescent sexual offending treatment landscape, as it can shift the focus and purpose of treatment from not only reducing recidivism, to other important factors, such as ensuring that adolescents live sexually healthy, hopeful, and productive lives. Although no recent research has determined the professional backgrounds of clinicians providing sexual offending specific therapy, according to the last sexual abuse treatment centre report to measure this, a significant proportion were social workers (McGrath et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). A recent survey of sexual abuse treatment providers found that only 9.02% of professionals surveyed were social workers (with a majority classifying themselves as clinical psychologists and counselors/therapists) (Calobrisi \u0026amp; Knight, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). As well, the social work field is not as widely represented in sexual offending research. As such, social work perspectives should be captured in the literature so that the meaningful treatment approaches can be shared with the wider practice and research communities and to legitimize a clinical evidence base.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCurrent Intervention: Unite and Redefine\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDescribed in previous publications (authors 2022; \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), the Unite and Redefine Group Therapy Intervention was offered by a small community agency in Southwestern Ontario, serving the Greater Toronto Area. The Unite and Redefine intervention consisted of 12 sessions online, using Zoom Webconferencing for Healthcare. Expertise for offering online groups was built by the researchers\u0026rsquo; previous experience in offering online groups to vulnerable adolescent populations (authors, 2021). Unite and Redefine included psychoeducational and processing components, with the facilitators modelling and prompting support-giving, empathy, and reflective listening to the group members. Group content was based on the three phases of the group: 1) Shifting shame, 2) Expanding Masculinity, and 3) Fostering Self Compassion. Session materials, and one group facilitator, remained consistent across the three sessions included in this research, for treatment fidelity.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePresent Study\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGroup therapy is an important adolescent sexual offending therapy approach that should be studied for its outcomes beyond recidivism. It is the aim of the present study to assess the Unite and Redefine group therapy treatment program that supports adolescents in reducing feelings of shame, endorse less hegemonically masculine constructs, and increase self-compassion.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis intervention research used a mixed methods explanatory sequential design, with a first phase of quantitative pre- and post- surveys, detailed here. The qualitative phase and mixed methods results will be detailed in future publications. This quantitative study utilizes a quasi-experimental research design, analyzing pre- and post- survey measures for statistical difference.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRecruitment\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Clients of community adolescent sexual offending treatment were referred to Unite and Redefine by their primary therapists if they met some basic inclusion criteria, including clients currently receiving treatment for sexual offending (mandated or having elected to attend) and considered appropriate for group therapy by their individual treating therapist (for example, suitably prosocial and able to appropriately engage in a group context). Clients were invited to participate in the research prior to the beginning of the group, which included pre- and post- test surveys and an interview after the completion of group. The importance and impact of research in the specialist area of youth sexual offending was described to potential participants, and questions about the research process were answered.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Collection\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003ewas received for this research from the \u003cem\u003eBlinded\u003c/em\u003e Research Ethics Board and the Research Ethics Committee of the agency at which the research was conducted. Demographic measures were collected through a client extraction form that was filled out by the client\u0026rsquo;s therapist and PI, after participant written consent was obtained. To promote equity, participants were offered an opportunity to attend these meetings with their clinicians, or to view the demographic responses. During the first session of the group, time was allocated for participants to complete quantitative pretests for the research online using IntakeQ, a PHIPA compliant online platform with survey capability. The same measures were provided to the participants at the end of the group, and time was allocated in the final session for them to complete the post-tests. Participants were provided with a \u003cspan\u003e$\u003c/span\u003e10 gift card for the pretest and a \u003cspan\u003e$\u003c/span\u003e20 gift card for the post-test.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuantitative Measures\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe four standardized pre- and post-test survey measures consisted of:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003col\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe State Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS) (Tangney \u0026amp; Dearing, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). The SSGS is a self-rating scale of the participant\u0026rsquo;s current feelings of shame, guilt, and pride experiences, and was developed based on theoretical and experimental psychology literature.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (The AMIRS) (Chu, et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). The AMIRS measures the extent of alignment by adolescent males to hegemonic masculinity ideals, specifically within relationships.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eMasculine Discrepancy Stress Scale (MDSS) (Reidy et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Masculine discrepancy stress results from failing to adhere to socially-defined masculinity norms (Reidy et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Self-Compassion Scale (Neff, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e). The Self-Compassion Scale was developed to measure three components of self-compassion through the subscales: self-kindness vs. judgement, common humanity vs. isolation, and mindfulness vs. over-identification.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Therapeutic Factor Inventory-8 (TFI-8) (Tasca et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). The TFI-8 is intended to provide a brief, reliasble, and valid measure of group process quality. This is a recommended measure of cohesion in sexual abuse treatment groups (Jennings \u0026amp; Deming, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnalysis of survey results was conducted using SPSS Version 27. The sample size (N\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11, n\u003csub\u003epretest\u003c/sub\u003e=11, n\u003csub\u003epostest\u003c/sub\u003e=9) was low due to the highly specialized population and limited research duration. Descriptive analysis of demographic data was conducted, along with paired sample t-tests to determine changes (i.e., statistically significant increases, decreases, or static results at post-test) in the measures for internalized shame, masculinity ideology, self-compassion, and therapeutic inventories. The paired-samples t-test was used to assess statistical differences, or changes, between two time points within the same sample to evaluate the effects of the intervention. This test was chosen as it reduced error and within-group variance by accounting for individual differences between subjects and has been used in similar studies with this population (Borduin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e; Jenkins et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Post-hoc analysis included a correlation analysis of the measures and the calculation of effect sizes for the paired sample \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e tests, estimated by calculating Hedges\u0026rsquo; \u003cem\u003eg\u003c/em\u003e (which has less of a small sample bias than Cohen\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDescriptive Statistics of Demographic and Offending Information\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOf the 11 participants recruited to participate in Unite and Redefine, 9 participants completed pre and post tests. Missing data was addressed through pairwise deletion. Demographic information of the participants is presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. The group was well attended, with participants attending an average of 9.56 groups (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.67), with a range from 7 sessions to all 12 attended by participants in the quantitative portion of the research. Participants demonstrated racial and sexual diversity in this sample (M\u003csub\u003eage\u003c/sub\u003e=16.89, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.17), with 4 participants identifying as White (44.4%), 2 as Black (22.2%), and 1 participant as Arab, Indigenous, and Southeast Asian (11.1% each). Out of the nine participants, five identified as straight at the time of the study (55.6%), 3 as bisexual (33.3%) and 1 as gay (11.1%). Seven participants identified as cismale (77.8%), while one participant identified as two-spirit (11.1%) and another as nonbinary (11.1%). Participants ranged in grade level, with three participants in each category of grade 10 (33.3%), three in 11 (33.3%), and three in postsecondary (33.3%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn average, participants had spent 7.28 months in treatment, with a large standard deviation of 7.35 months. Most participants did not have caregivers involved in treatment, defined as attending group therapy, family therapy, or providing support for their sons while in treatment (77.8%), while two participants did have active caregiver involvement in treatment (22.2%). The average age of the first offense for participants was 14.33 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.32) and most participants had one known victim, with only one participant having two known victims. Offending type varied but included 4 categories of sexual offenses against same-age peers (44.4%), 3 against siblings (33.3%), 2 against other family members (22.2%), and one online offense (11.1%).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDescriptive Statistics of Demographic and Offending Information\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePercent\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eM\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAttendance (Out of 12 Sessions)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRace/Ethnicity\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eArab\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBlack\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIndigenous\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoutheast Asian\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhite\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSexual Orientation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGay\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBisexual\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eStraight\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGender Identity\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCismale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo-spirit\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003enonbinary\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eEducation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrade 10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrade 11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePost-Secondary\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTime in Treatment (months)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaregiver Involvement\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecaregivers involved\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCaregivers not involved\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e77.8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAge at time of first offense\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.33\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of known victims\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eType of Offense (non-mutually exclusive categories)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSibling\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIntrafamilial\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e22.2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeer\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOnline\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eRisk Rating (ERASOR Score)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMedium\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e44.4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eReferral Source\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-referred\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11.1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eProbation\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e55.6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eChildren\u0026rsquo;s Aid Society\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e33.3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of group sessions attended\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.18\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.82\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCorrelation Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA correlation analysis was performed using the time 2 post-test data, yielding several statistically significant relationships (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The choice to use post-test data for the correlation analysis, instead of change scores, was to avoid potential conflation of the intervention effects with baseline (e.g. pretest data), resulting in elucidating the relationship between scores, separate from the effects of the intervention (Tennant et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR72\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Furthermore, the use of post test scores have been demonstrated to provide a more accurate representation of correlational relationships, as change scores have been demonstrated to be correlated with the baseline pretest scores due to regression to the mean, potentially causing spurious findings (Clifton \u0026amp; Clifton, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Several findings are noted, with consideration to the significant results of the paired sample \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test. The Self-Compassion subscale item of Overidentification demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship with the State Shame and Guilt subscales of shame (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.696, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.10) and pride (r=-0.828, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01). The direction of the relationship between overidentification and pride is strongly negative (0.5\u0026lt; |\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e|), indicating that an increase in pride is related to a decrease in overidentification. This relationship was observed in the pre- and post-\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test analysis as pride significantly increased and overidentification significantly decreased over the course of the intervention. The Pride subscale also had a strong, positive, significant relationship with the masculinity scales, AMIRS (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.759, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) and MDDS (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.75, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), indicating that traditionally masculine views or increased masculinity stress may be related to participants\u0026rsquo; pride in themselves. The SSGS subscale for guilt was positively and strongly correlated with Treatment Factors Inventory (TFI-5) (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.68, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), demonstrating that an increase in feelings of guilt is correlated to experiences of greater group connection. Finally, the TFI-5 was also significantly and positively correlated with MDSS (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.75, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), demonstrating a strong relationship. In conclusion, an increase in reported pride, guilt, and anxiety about masculinity adherence, respectively, is correlated to an increase in feelings of group cohesion is correlated to for participants of the Unite and Redefine group therapy program.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePaired-Sample t-tests\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePre- and post-test psychometric scales were analyzed on SPSS using a paired sample \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e-test (see Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). 9 participants completed post-test measures and were included in the paired sample \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e test.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMasculinity Measures\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants demonstrated no change in masculinity ideology as defined by The Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale (AMIRS) with the pre-score mean of 1.806 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.38) and a post-test mean of 1.808 (SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.45), \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)=-0.021, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.492, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.41. The Masculine Discrepancy Stress and Psychosocial Maladjustment (MDSS) demonstrated a significant decrease from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16.89, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.16) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;14.0, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.39, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.60, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.016, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.782), suggesting that youth experienced less stress in relationship to their conceptualizations of masculinity at the end of the group when compared to the start.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec16\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eState Shame and Guilt Scale\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe State Shame and Guilt Scale yielded an insignificant decrease in the shame subscale from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15.78, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.70) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;13.0, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.90, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.294, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.116, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.39). However, the guilt subscale significantly decreased (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05) from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;20.0, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.94) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;17.78, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.47, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.229, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.028, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.671), demonstrating that participants reported feeling less guilt by the end of the group. The pride subscale also significantly increased (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.10) from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;13.0, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.67) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15.44, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.78, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)=-1.571, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.077,\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCorrelations of Study Variables\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"17\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c15\" colnum=\"15\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c16\" colnum=\"16\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c17\" colnum=\"17\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. AMIRS\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2. Masculine Discrepancy Stress Scale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3. SCS Self-Kindness Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.69*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4. SCS Self-Judgement Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.63\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5. SCS Common Humanity Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.52\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.67*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.55\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6. SCS Isolation Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.89**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7. SCS Mindfulness Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.68*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.52\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8. SCS Over-identified subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.65\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.78*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.90**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.76*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9. SCS Total\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.52\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.74\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.90**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.76*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.90**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.90**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e10. SSGS Shame Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.90\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.73*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.50\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.70*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.72*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.70*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.78*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e11. SSGS Guilt Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.60\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.11\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.56\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e12. SSGS Pride Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.76*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.098\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.93**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.71*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.67*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-067\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.123\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.83**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.88**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.68*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.113\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13. TFI-8 Total Score\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.75*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c12\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c13\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.07\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c15\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.10\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c16\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.75*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c17\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"17\"\u003e*p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, **p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01 (2-tailed)\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;5.17), demonstrating that participants experienced greater feelings of pride in themselves and their accomplishments by the end of the group.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSelf-Compassion Scale\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eParticipants did not experience a significant change in the overall self-compassion score. The mean insignificantly increased from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.45, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.58) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.52, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.74), \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)=-0.393, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.352, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.59 [Hedge\u0026rsquo;s Correction]). According to the Self-Compassion Scale psychometric guide, scores between 2.5\u0026ndash;3.5 indicate moderate self-compassion (Neff, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e). In an examination of the six subscales, the five subscales: kindness, judgement, common humanity, isolation, and mindfulness changed insignificantly, with mindfulness specifically remaining the same from pre- to post- test \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.00, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.500. The sixth subscale, overidentification, demonstrated a marginally significant reduction from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.81, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.85) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.39, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.75, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.622, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.072, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.85). The overidentification subscale referred to questions such as \u0026ldquo;when something upsets me I get carried away with my feelings\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;when I\u0026rsquo;m feeling down I tend to obsess and fixate on everything that\u0026rsquo;s wrong\u0026rdquo;. Overidentification refers to focusing on one\u0026rsquo;s suffering, while experiencing more self-compassion results in decreased overidentification in situations where one perceives failures (Neff \u0026amp; T\u0026oacute;th-Kir\u0026aacute;ly, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTherapeutic Inventory Scale\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGroup process quality was measured using the Therapeutic Factor Inventory Scale (TFI-8), a brief version of the original TFI-99 (Tasca, et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). This measure was found to have significantly increased from pre- (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;28.22, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9.26) to post-test (M\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;35, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;8.51, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)=-2.952, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.009, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e=-0.888), demonstrating an increased sense of cohesion and emotional closeness between group members throughout the group process.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePaired Sample t-tests (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9)\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eScale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSubscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTime 1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTime 2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSE\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(8)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eHedge\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationship Scale (AMIRS)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.13\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.15\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.021\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.006\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMasculine Discrepancy Stress Scale (MDSS)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.16\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.72\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e14.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.80\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.6**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eState Shame and Guilt Scale (SSGS)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eShame Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.70\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.23\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.90\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.63\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eGuilt Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e20.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.94\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e17.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.22**\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ePride Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e13.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.67\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e15.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.78\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.08*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Compassion Scale (SCS)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.45\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.19\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.52\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.74\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Kindness Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.63\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.14\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSelf-Judgement Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.58\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.31\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.47\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.08\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.36\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eCommon Humanity Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.46\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.97\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.27\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eIsolation Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.29\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.44\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.35\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.54\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMindfulness Subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.73\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.24\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.61\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.59\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.20\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eOveridentified subscale\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.81\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.28\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.39\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.25\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.62*\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.49\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eTherapeutic Inventory Factors (TFI-5)\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e28.22\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e9.26\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e35.00\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.51\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.84\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-2.95***\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.89\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"10\"\u003e*p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.10, **p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05, ***p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.0\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe present study offers tentative quantitative support for the group therapy program, Unite and Redefine, with adolescents who have sexually offended, who are also participating in individual therapy to address client-specific treatment goals. Most research on adolescent sexual offending treatment groups have applied cognitive behavioural therapy modalities, demonstrated to address recidivism and deviant sexual arousal (Walker et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e), but do not necessarily address other important treatment goals such as masculinity and self-compassion. This research addresses this gap by targetting components beyond recidivism or sexual arousal.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMasculinity\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study did not find a significant difference between pre- and post-test in regard to hegemonically masculine beliefs, with the results demonstrating a relatively stable score and very low effect size (Hedge\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e of -0.006). Given the overwhelming representation of males in adolescent delinquency and sexual violence (Farr et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e; Reilly et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e), the construct of masculinity is an important consideration in addressing sexual offending behaviour. Belief in hegemonic masculinity constructs has been demonstrated to be related to engagement in general delinquent behaviour (Hunter, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e) and hypermasculinity measures are endorsed by a cluster of adolescents who sexually offend and tend to demonstrate anti-social tendencies (Parent et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Messerschmidt (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2000\u003c/span\u003e) postulated that sexual violence can be an avenue to overcome internal masculinity challenges for adolescent males, establishing that futher research is needed to explore this relationship. There is some support for a relationship between feelings of masculinity inadequacy and sexual violence (Zakireh et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR78\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). However, Brown and Burton (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e) found that masculinity construct beliefs are higher for youth who engage in general delinquency along with sexual offenses compared to youth who exclusively sexually offend. Thus, further research is needed to fully determine the relationship between sexual violence and masculinity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study has demonstrated that beliefs in masculinity constructs did not significantly change as a result of group, perhaps indicating that the difficulty of addressing hegemonic masculinity clinically. However, masculine discrepancy stress, or stress related to not being perceived as prescribing to one\u0026rsquo;s assigned gender (Reidy et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e), appears to have reduced significantly, with a large effect size. Masculinity distress has been found to be linked to maladjustment, substance use, trauma, and engagement in violence (Reidy et al., 2018). Conformity to prescribed gender roles was associated with behavioural or mental health factors, such as engagement in violence, making masculine gender role distress a factor in adolescent male behavioural outcomes (Reidy et al., 2018). The results of the current study and previous literature support that adolescents who have sexually offended may be best served by clinical interventions that specifically address masculinity discrepancy and its relationship to violent behaviours. Altering an adolescent\u0026rsquo;s lifetime of engrained and internalized masculinity concepts may not be possible within a 12-week treatment timeframe, resulting in the null hypothesis found in this study. However, the intervention may be a starting point for group members to engage in dialogue surrounding hegemonically masculine norms and their impact. Indeed, participants may be more willing and able to engage in these discussions if masculinity distress dissipates, which was demonstarted to have resulted during group treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne unexpected finding from this study was the significant correlation between masculinity distress and group therapeutic factors, which may demonstrate a social process as a result of the socialization of boys and men. In particular, this may demonstrate the presence of homosociality, or the social bonds formed between people of the same sex based on shared gender attributes, such as hegemonic masculinity (Hammar\u0026eacute;n \u0026amp; Johansson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Another explanation may be that group participants became more cohesive as the group continued and were able to openly discuss issues surrounding their masculinity anxiety, a phenomenon that was observed by the group facilitators, and detailed in the qualitative portion of this project. Participants\u0026rsquo; engagement with masculinity and emotionality will be further explored in the qualitative portion of this research.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA decrease in masculine gender role discrepancy resulted in more positive mental health, with masculinity conceptualization serving as a mediating factor for more masculinity beliefs (Mesler et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). This study lends support to the possibility that masculinity distress can be addressed through group content about masculinity, providing opportunities for group processing, and demonstrating vulnerability (Jewkes et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Masculinity distress did see a significant reduction over the intervention, which could result in a lowered engagement in violence (Baugher \u0026amp; Gazmararian, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, this is an important construct to measure in research and address in practice.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eShame, Guilt, and Pride\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the important targets for the Unite and Redefine intervention was shame reduction through decreased isolation and increased emotional processing as a group. While self-reported shame did decrease, it did so insignificantly. Internalized shame has several adverse health effects on the general population, such as anger and aggression (Elison et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Tangney \u0026amp; Dearing, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR70\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e), as well as serving as an impediment to treatment (Oluyori, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). Addressing shame can be incorporated into common interventions for adolescent sexual offending, such as cognitive reframing, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and mindfulness, although the active ingredients of these interventions that specifically target shame still require elucidation (Goffnett et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Shame is common emotional experience for those who have sexually offended (Blagden et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e), and a common treatment target (Marshall, et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). Interventions specifically targetting shame in adult sexual offending groups found that while participants are able to reframe non-offending sexual behaviours as an opportunity to learn and redirect behaviours, they still engage in negative self-talk, and self-forgiveness that may reduce accountability when applied to sexual offending (Mullins \u0026amp; Kirkwood, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Shame is a complex emotion that may require longer-term work to fully address clinically.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough shame was not demonstrated to significantly decrease, the overidentification subscale from the SCS did significantly decrease from time 1 to time 2. Overidentification is understood to be a strong moderator in the relationship between feeling like an imposter and interpersonal shame, which can be buffered from resiliency offered by increased self-compassion (Wei et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR75\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Over-identification is also an important factor to target in the treatment of shame and hypersexual behaviours (Phillips et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). The present study demonstrated a correlation between shame on the SSGS and overidentificiation on the SCS. Therefore, although shame did not significantly decrease, overidentification did decrease and appears to be an important factor to target in the treatment of shame for adolescents who have sexually offended.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGuilt was found to have significantly decreased over the intervention. While shame is defined as a self-conscious feeling in which an individual evaluates themselves negatively against a defined set of social rules of behaviour (Lewis, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e), guilt involves the feeling of negatively appraising one\u0026rsquo;s engagement in a specific behaviour (Tangney, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e). Guilt is positively correlated to empathy, while shame is negatively correlated to compassion (Tangney, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1991\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, a reduction in guilt may not be a result that would be expected or sought in adolescent sexual offending treatment. As guilt is considered to become maladaptive when it becomes merged with shame (Tangney, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1995\u003c/span\u003e), it is clinically necessary to identify the experience of maladaptive guilt, and to support clients in more efficacious expressions of the guilt emotion that can effectuate accountability and clarification.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe pride subscale of the SSGS saw a moderately significant improvement. The pride subscale measures feeling worthwhile, valuable, effective, and good about one\u0026rsquo;s self. In research on both sexually offending adults and adolescents, having a sense of pride in one\u0026rsquo;s treatment accomplishments is an important variable in living offense-free according to research on adults (Harris et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) and adolescents who had sexually offended (Aylwin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; McCamey, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Research has found that adolescents engaged in delinquency tend to have diminished ability to experience guilt and shame, and an increased capacity for pride (Schalkwijk et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e), while pride in delinquency predicts reoffending behaviour, aggression, and substance use (Skilling \u0026amp; Sorge, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR63\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, it should be noted that pride in therapeutic accomplishment would have been salient to the group members at the time of posttest, which was delivered after they were affirmed for their accomplishment during the last group celebratory session.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSelf-Compassion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe overall SCS was not found to have changed significantly in this study and the only subscale that did significantly decrease was over-identification. The mindfulness subscale score did not change at all from time 1 to time 2. Although self-compassion is not a well studied phenomenon for adolescents who have sexually offended, it has been found to be a predictor for personal distress, shame, and social functioning (Lo, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Self-compassion may be an important component of adolescent sexual offending treatment given this population\u0026rsquo;s social functioning deficits and propensity for isolation (Seto \u0026amp; Lalumi\u0026eacute;re, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e), however the focus of treatment tends to be related to identifying and challenging cognitive distortions and behaviours supportive of sexual offending (Worling et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Although a richer understanding of self-compassion was not garnered from this study, further intervention research should evaluate its effects on empathy and the role it can play in adolescent sexual offending treatment.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec23\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLimitations\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn important limitation to consider in the interpretation of these results is the small sample size (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9) and limited statistical power. Small sample size is common in research involving adolescents who have sexually offended, a population that is difficult to access due to the sensitivity and stigma surrounding the topic (Korngiebel et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e; Rodriguez, 2017). While the small sample size is similar to previous research with this population (Borduin et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e; Kettrey \u0026amp; Lipsey, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Mazur \u0026amp; Michael, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1992\u003c/span\u003e; ter Beek et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), future research should aim for larger samples and longer timeframes. Multiple t-tests and lack of a control group further limit causal conclusions. Although efforts were made to mitigate these limitations (e.g., using Hedge\u0026rsquo;s g and a quasi-experimental design), the lack of a comparison group restricts the ability to attribute changes solely to the Unite and Redefine program (Letourneau \u0026amp; Borduin, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). One measure, the Adolescent Masculinity Ideology in Relationships Scale, showed low reliability (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.55), possibly due to participant interpretation or sample characteristics (Pickett et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Participants received both group and individual therapy concurrently, so findings should be interpreted in the context of combined treatment. Treatment fidelity was not formally measured; however, consistency was maintained through a standardized curriculum and the same facilitator (the PI) across all three online group iterations. Demographic data were collected from individual therapists rather than clients to avoid duplicating sensitive questions, but this may have affected accuracy regarding dynamic identity factors (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation). Conversely, therapist reports may be more reliable due to rapport and access to collateral sources (e.g., court reports). While participants were invited to co-complete extraction forms with therapists, none opted in. This study also marks the first online implementation of Unite and Redefine, required by COVID-19 restrictions. Adjustments were made to transition the group to a virtual format, and only online groups were included to ensure consistency. Finally, as the PI also served as the group facilitator and sometimes individual therapist, social desirability bias may have influenced participants\u0026rsquo; responses, mitigated through de-identification.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec24\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eApplication to Social Work Practice\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research highlights the potential of Unite and Redefine as a valuable group therapy intervention for adolescents who have sexually offended. Unite and Redefine aligns with social justice principles, supporting healing, while offering the unique benefits of group-based modalities such as empathy development, emotional expression, peer feedback, and leadership opportunities (Yoder, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR77\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Psychoeducation on masculinity should be integrated into treatment, acknowledging the complexity and time required for adolescents to fully engage with these concepts. Addressing masculinity discrepancy, particularly through media literacy and peer discussions, can be effective in both group and individual therapy. Group settings offer validation and modeling that help challenge rigid gender norms. Given the central role of shame in the healing process (Shapiro \u0026amp; Powers, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e), group therapy should remain a space for addressing and transforming shame into constructive growth through group member social interaction. Clinicians should foster pride in group participants by validating accomplishments, helping participants develop a positive sense of self. Mindfulness, a core aspect of self-compassion, showed limited change in participants, suggesting a need for increased focus on mindfulness-based activities. Helping youth differentiate themselves from their offending behaviors may serve as an entry point to practicing self-compassion and reducing shame. Finally, Effective facilitation of adolescent sexual offending groups requires specialized training. Facilitators must skillfully manage developmental needs, group dynamics, and the balance between empathy and accountability (Jennings \u0026amp; Sawyer, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Success of the Unite and Redefine program is tied to the cultivation of group therapeutic factors, dependent on expert facilitation (Jennings \u0026amp; Deming, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec25\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSocial Work Research Implications\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFindings of this research support continued data collection on group therapy programs, especially examining long-term outcomes and sustainability of change. Importantly, research on treatment for adolescent sexual offending should continue to capture psychological constructs such as shame, guilt, masculinity, and self-compassion. Other factors to identify include attrition, disengagement, or unsuitability to group treatment. Qualitative approaches, like those in the second portion of this research, can provide deeper insight into participant lived experiences with key therapeutic concepts. Though masculinity was not significantly correlated with outcomes in this study, prior research suggests a link worth exploring (Brown \u0026amp; Burton, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Future studies should further examine masculinity discrepancy, particularly the observed decrease in anxiety around gender presentation. Qualitative and quantitative methods are needed to understand how gender-related anxiety affects treatment outcomes. More research is needed on how shame can be reduced in this population and whether this supports therapeutic progress. Pride also emerged as a key finding; future work should differentiate pride in therapeutic progress and explore its relationship to shame reduction and treatment engagement. Self-compassion remains an under-researched yet promising treatment focus. Further study is needed to explore its link to victim empathy and overall treatment success. The observed connection between self-compassion and shame (particularly overidentification) suggests potential for intervention strategies targeting this relationship.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eKey findings of this novel research revealed a reduction in masculinity discrepancy stress, although no change was observed in masculinity ideology in relationships. Contrary to expectations, shame did not significantly decrease; however, participants reported reduced guilt and increased pride. Self-compassion overall did not improve, except for a significant decrease in overidentification, a subscale linked to shame, suggesting its potential clinical importance. Additionally, Therapeutic Inventories increased over the course of the program, indicating the creation of group cohesion throughout the group sessions. These results provide promising support for Unite and Redefine specifically, and group therapy for adolescents who sexually offend, more broadly. Given the widespread use of group therapy with this population (McGrath et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e), further research is essential to assess the effectiveness of these programs in meeting both clinical goals and holistic needs. Group-based interventions that address broader developmental issues may be particularly effective, offering opportunities for peer learning, emotional expression, and behavior modeling in a cohesive, supportive environment. Continued research is necessary to evaluate and refine such programs, with the aim of developing evidence-based best practices that view adolescents who have sexually offended as capable of growth and healing, and that support their development into sexually healthy and respectful adults.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRachael Pascoe (RP) served as the Principal Investigator and lead author for this study. RP was responsible for the research design, ethics applications, data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and the preparation of all manuscript drafts. SL served as RP\u0026rsquo;s doctoral supervisor and provided ongoing mentorship, guidance on methodological design, and substantive feedback throughout the development, analysis, and writing of the study. JL and SB served as internal committee members who contributed to the refinement of the study design, offered critical feedback during data interpretation, and provided detailed editorial input on multiple manuscript iterations. JY served as the external committee member and contributed expert guidance on the study\u0026rsquo;s conceptual framing and methodological rigor. JY\u0026rsquo;s specialized insight provided invaluable contributions to the interpretation of findings and the overall strengthening of the manuscript.All authors have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for the work presented.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors wish to acknowledge the clients who participated in this study, the support of the hosting agency in conducting this research, and the SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and the IASWG SPARC Grant, which financially supported the corresponding author in conducting this research. As well, Dr. Samantha Anthony provided valuable insights and feedback during the doctoral defense of this research.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eRaw data for the dataset used in this research is not publicly available to preserve individual participants\u0026rsquo; privacy under The Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthors (2019). ; 2021; 2023.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eATSA. (2017). \u003cem\u003eATSA Practice Guidelines for Assessment, Treatment, and Intervention with Adolescents who have Engaged in Sexually Abusive Behavior\u003c/em\u003e. Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAylwin, A., Reddon, J., \u0026amp; Burke, A. (2005). 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Imposter feelings and psychological distress among Asian Americans: Interpersonal shame and self-compassion. \u003cem\u003eThe Counseling Psychologist\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e48\u003c/em\u003e(3), 432\u0026ndash;458. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1177/0011000019891992\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1177/0011000019891992\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorling, J., Josefowitz, N., \u0026amp; Maltar, M. (2011). Reducing shame and increasing guilt and responsibility with adolescents who have offended sexually: A CBT-based treatment approach. In M. Calder (Ed.), \u003cem\u003eContemporary practice with young people who sexually abuse\u003c/em\u003e (pp. 320\u0026ndash;334). Russell House.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYoder, J. R. (2014). 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Individual beliefs, attitudes, and victimization histories of male juvenile sexual offenders. \u003cem\u003eSexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e20\u003c/em\u003e(3), 323\u0026ndash;351. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1177/1079063208322424\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1177/1079063208322424\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"clinical-social-work-journal","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"csow","sideBox":"Learn more about [Clinical Social Work Journal](http://link.springer.com/journal/10615)","snPcode":"10615","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/10615/3","title":"Clinical Social Work Journal","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"adolescent sexual offending, group therapy, sexual offending interventions, shame, masculinity, sexual offending treatment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eBackground\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTreatment for adolescents who have sexually offended, aimed at reducing risk and recidivism, must be specialized and distinct from adult sexual offending treatment (McPherson et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). Group therapy can offer psychoeducation to numerous clients concurrently, support youth in developing social skills, and enhance treatment engagement (Rich, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). A\u003cb\u003eims\u003c/b\u003e: This study presents the quantitative portion of a mixed methods explanatory sequential design to assess the Unite and Redefine group therapy program in reducing feelings of shame, endorse less hegemonically masculine constructs, and increase self-compassion.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study concerns the quantitative survey portion of a larger mixed methods design. Participants were adolescent participants in treatment for sexual offending and attending. The community based Unite and Redefine Group Therapy program. Participants completed five scales on the first and last day of the twelve-week group.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA total of nine participants (M\u003csub\u003eage\u003c/sub\u003e=16.89, SD\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.17) completed both pretests and post-tests and demonstrated a diverse sample of youth. Participants demonstrated reductions in the masculinity ideology (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), guilt (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), and overidentification subscale (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.10). The participants also experienced an increase in pride (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.10) and therapeutic inventory factors (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Although hypothesized, shame did not see a significant change, while shame and guilt were significantly higher than population norms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscussion\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis study offers tentative quantitative support, despite limitations, for the Unite and Redefine group therapy, speaking to the importance of offering interventions that target factors beyond recidivism.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"The Effects of Adolescent Sexual Offending Group Therapy on Shame, Masculinity, and Self-Compassion ","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-04 11:14:07","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8207709/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"155313429413941997270446546300220135201","date":"2026-05-22T12:57:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-03-26T15:45:31+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"255684192199426955358671082584527978465","date":"2026-03-12T08:34:09+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"39086087928204595341721981092472769155","date":"2026-01-12T19:03:11+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-02T17:19:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-01T08:29:27+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-01T08:28:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Clinical Social Work Journal","date":"2025-11-26T02:11:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"clinical-social-work-journal","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"csow","sideBox":"Learn more about [Clinical Social Work Journal](http://link.springer.com/journal/10615)","snPcode":"10615","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/10615/3","title":"Clinical Social Work Journal","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"cfcfb441-0e42-47df-b46f-3ad7125b99d8","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 4th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"155313429413941997270446546300220135201","date":"2026-05-22T12:57:28+00:00","index":45,"fulltext":""}],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-04T11:14:07+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-04 11:14:07","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8207709","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8207709","identity":"rs-8207709","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}