Comment on Turner (2000).

Field research like that of A. L. Turner (see record 2000-03669-001) has the potential to develop theory about coping and treatment processes. We discuss theoretical concepts from social support research, social comparison theory, and emotional processing models, which can help to understand what is happening in group-based interventions and to plan interventions that address the interface between socially supportive processes and individual differences in anxiety reactions. We discuss methodological approaches that can be used to assess how treatment effects are mediated and suggest settings where controlled evaluations are possible. Such research can enrich theory about group processes and build the effectiveness of group-based interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)