Background: Interpersonal behavioral style (IPBS) refers to the way in which someone behaves in social contact. IPBS affects the type and quality of different social interactions including the therapeutic relationship. The therapeutic relationship correlates with treatment outcome, IPBS possibly too. The direction of that relationship remains unclear.
Aim: To examine the predictive value of IPBS on treatment outcome in group treatment.
Method: 149 patients were divided in different types of IPBS: degree of affiliation (kindness vs. hostility), degree of dominance (dominant vs. submissive), quadrants (combination of affiliation and dominance) and vector length (strength of IPBS). Treatment outcome was measured in experienced psychopathology, social anxiety and frequency of social contact. Groups were compared by using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant differences were analyzed using Tukey's post-hoc analysis.
Results: Vector length predicted all treatment outcome measures. The degree of dominance predicted only scores on social anxiety and frequency of social contact. The degree of affiliation did not predict any treatment results.
Conclusion: Findings suggest that adult patients with stronger IPBS and a more submissive, sub-assertive IPBS experienced lower social anxiety scores and increased frequency of social contact after treatment. A stronger IPBS also predicts lower experienced psychopathology post-treatment. The degree of kindness/hostility does not affect treatment outcome.