Mid‐ and Long‐Term Effects of Family Constellation Seminars in a General Population Sample: 8‐ and 12‐Month Follow‐Up

• Author: Annette Bornhäuser,Jochen Schweitzer,Leoni Link,Jan Weinhold,Christina Hunger
• Date: 01 June 2015
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12102
• Published date: 01 June 2015

Mid- and Long-Term Effects of Family Constellation

Seminars in a General Population Sample: 8- and

12-Month Follow-Up

CHRISTINA HUNGER*

JAN WEINHOLD*

ANNETTE BORNHA

¨USER*

LEONI LINK*

JOCHEN SCHWEITZER*

In a previous randomized controlled trial (RCT), short-term efficacy of family constella-

tion seminars (FCSs) in a general population sample was demonstrated. In this article, we

examined mid- and long-term stability of these effects. Participants were 104 adults

(M=47 years; SD =9; 84% female )who were part of the intervention group in the original

RCT (3-day FCS; 64 active participants and 40 observing participants). FCSs were carr ied

out according to manuals. It was predicted that FCSs would improve psychologic al func-

tioning (Outcome Questionnaire OQ-45.2) at 8- and 12-month follow-up. Additionally, we

assessed the effects of FCSs on psychological distress, motivational incongruence, individu-

als’ experience in their personal social systems, and overall goal attainmen t. Participants

yielded significant improvement in psychological functioning (d=0.41 at 8-month follow-

up, p=.000; d=0.40 at 12-month follow-up, p=.000). Results were confirmed for

psychological distress, motivational incongruence, the participants’ experience in their

personal social systems, and overall goal attainment. No adverse events were reported.

This study provides first evidence for the mid- and long-term efficacy of FCSs in a nonclini-

cal population. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords: Outcome Research; Family Constellations; Psychological Health; Experience in

Personal Social Systems; Goal Attainment

Fam Proc 54:344–358, 2015

Afamily constellation (FC) is a specific intervention in the field of group and family

therapies (see Cohen, 2006). Like contextual family therapy, it integrates individual

and systemic approaches (Boszormenyi-Nagy & Krasner, 1986) and tries to foster change

by attending to the multigenerational transmission of family dynamics (see Gangamma,

Bartle-Haring, & Glebova, 2012). Technically, it integrates elements from psychodrama

(Moreno, 1946) and family sculpture (Duhl, Kantor, & Duhl, 1973; Papp, Scheinkman, &

Malpas, 2013; Satir, Bitter, & Krestensen, 1988) as spontaneous dramatizations of

*Institute for Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidel-

berg Germany.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Christina Hunger, Institute for Medical

Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Bergheimerstraße 20,

Heidelberg 69115, Germany. E-mail: christina.hunger@med.uni-heidelberg.de.

344

Family Process, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2015 ©2014 Family Process Institute

doi: 10.1111/famp.12102