Title: Group-Based Intervention Enhancing Interpersonal Competence among Chinese Social Work Undergraduate Students: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract: Purpose: This study developed and evaluated a group-based intervention aimed at enhancing interpersonal competence among undergraduate social work students. Method: A pilot cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted among social work undergraduate students at a university in mainland China. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group (n=118), which received six sessions targeting empathy, interpersonal conflict coping, and social support seeking, or a waitlist control group (n =120). Results: Analyses using linear mixed models indicated significant improvements in overall interpersonal competence, including empathy, coping strategies for interpersonal conflict, social support seeking, and general communication competence. Discussion: This pilot study offers initial evidence that a group-based intervention can improve interpersonal competence among social work undergraduates. The program shows potential for incorporation into social work curricula to enhance communication and relationship-building abilities.
Keywords: interpersonal competence, social work education, group-based intervention, randomized controlled trial
DOI: 10.1177/10497315261427327
