RT Article
T1 Barriers to Leading Small Groups among Generation Z and Younger Millennials: An Exploratory Factor Analysis and Implications for Recruitment and Training
JF Christian education journal
VO 19
IS 1
SP 152
OP 169
A1 Dunaetz, David R.
A1 Wong, Diane T.
A1 Draper, Alexandria L.
A1 Salsman, Jacob P.
LA English
PB Sage Publications
YR 2022
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1801910146
AB Small groups are an essential aspect of contemporary churches, playing an important role in community building, support, spiritual formation, and accountability. However, their number and impact are often limited due to a lack of people willing to lead a small group, a problem faced by each new generation. This exploratory study of 217 young adults in church small groups (median age = 24.0 years), including both leaders and non-leaders of small groups, examines potential barriers to small group leadership. An exploratory factor analysis found six barriers: Desire to lead a small group, Skills in group dynamics, Desire to positively influence others, Social support, Biblical foundations, and Stability. The hypothesis that some barriers would be greater than others was supported: Stability and Desire to lead a small group were the greatest barriers whereas Desire to positively influence others was the lowest. The hypothesis that these barriers would be greater for non-leaders of small groups than for leaders of small groups was supported for all six barriers. The difference between leaders and non-leaders was largest for Desire to lead a small group, Skills in group dynamics, Social support, and especially Biblical foundations. These results lead to important insights for recruiting and training Generation Z and younger Millennials to be small group leaders.
K1 Church
K1 Young adults
K1 Generation Z
K1 group dynamics
K1 Christian Education
K1 Training
K1 Leadership
K1 Small groups
DO 10.1177/07398913211018482