GROUP-ORIENTED ACTIVITY AND THE CHANGE IN TEAMWORK OF CHRONIC PSYCHOTIC PATIENTS

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Abstract
The study assessed the effects of a group-oriented swimming instruction program on teamwork in the same groups in a Corrective Therapy (CT) gymnasium and an Occupational Therapy (OT) clinic. Three groups were formed with 10 regressed, locked-ward, chronic psychotic patients per group. The groups were: 1) a long-term (6 months), group-oriented swimming experience group; 2) a short-term (3 months), group-oriented swimming group; and 3) an unstructured, free-swim group. The three groups were compared on change in teamwork in the CT gym and OT clinic as rated by three judges on a “Group Spirit and Teamwork” rating scale. Significant differences in teamwork change were found in the gymnasium but not in the OT clinic indicating greater carry-over effects in the CT gym, which was more similar to the swimming pool, than in the less similar OT clinic. Further analysis of the gym data showed that the long-term, group-oriented swimming group showed a significantly greater increase in teamwork than did the other two groups. These results supported a previous finding that a long-term, group-oriented program was required for significant carry-over effects. It was suggested that a program using groups progressing as a unit from group-oriented physical activities into less similar, more complex social situations should enhance the carry-over of group cohesion and teamwork. It was also suggested that group-oriented physical activities could be used to form groups of regressed patients and to prepare them for a more advanced group-oriented program aimed toward group community living.

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