Group Climate Questionnaire as a Referent-Shift Consensus Measure: Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling

Abstract

This study examined the Group Climate Questionnaire-Short Form (GCQ-S) as a referent-shift consensus measure of cohesion among 83 Chinese undergraduates in 15 positive psychology-informed psychoeducational groups over 14 weekly sessions. Using multisample actor-partner interdependence models (APIM) across early, middle, and late sessions, we compared the predictive validity of individual-perception (Cohesion-Self) and consensus-based GCQ-S scores (Cohesion-Other) for therapeutic factors capturing immediate therapeutic gains. Results showed that consensus-based GCQ-S scores significantly predicted therapeutic factors in late sessions. Findings provide criterion-related support for GCQ-S as a referent-shift consensus measure and indicate that cohesion consensus strengthens as groups progress.