This study was conducted to develop and evaluate a small-group–based intervention program aimed at promoting healthy self-formation and relational growth among unmarried young adults in contemporary Korean society, where rapid individualization and ...
This study was conducted to develop and evaluate a small-group–based intervention program aimed at promoting healthy self-formation and relational growth among unmarried young adults in contemporary Korean society, where rapid individualization and shifting value systems have contributed to an increasing unmarried population. The study applied the Daniel Small Group Program, grounded in self psychology, to 18 unmarried young adults belonging to The Nureem, a young adult ministry community of Young-eun Church, and examined its effectiveness.
The theoretical foundation of this study is based on Heinz Kohut’s self psychology, with particular emphasis on the core selfobject experiences of mirroring, idealizing, and twinship. From this perspective, the study analyzed the self-structure and relational characteristics of unmarried young adults, understanding their emotional isolation and relational difficulties primarily as a deficit of empathic selfobject experiences. Accordingly, the study explored the potential of communal and faith-based interventions to facilitate emotional restoration and relational healing.
A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. For the quantitative analysis, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was used to examine changes in participants’ self-esteem and relational perceptions before and after the program. For the qualitative analysis, in-depth interviews conducted before and after the program, along with session-by-session feedback records, were inductively analyzed to explore participants’ inner experiences and processes of spiritual reflection.
The results indicated that the Daniel Small Group Program produced meaningful improvements in participants’ self-esteem, self-acceptance, relational satisfaction, and communication abilities. Participants reported experiencing empathic understanding within the group, which enabled them to reconstruct their sense of self through relationships with others. In addition, participants rediscovered their relationship with God as a spiritual selfobject, leading to increased inner stability and a renewed sense of belonging. Through being accepted as meaningful members of the community, participants strengthened their relational identity and sense of communal connectedness.
These findings suggest that the Daniel Small Group Program holds significant potential as an integrative pastoral counseling intervention that fosters not only psychological recovery but also spiritual maturity and communal belonging among unmarried young adults. By integrating self psychology with pastoral counseling, this study offers a new perspective on the self and relational challenges faced by unmarried young adults and presents a practical pastoral model for church communities seeking to accompany and support this population.