Kymissis cautions against mixing which of the following in group work with adolescents?

Kymissis cautions against mixing which of the following in group work with adolescents?

• A. Boys And Girls
• B. Seventh And Eighth Graders
• C. High School Freshmen And Seniors
• D. Athletes And Non-Athletes

Answer: (C)

Adolescent group work thrives when members are close in age and developmental stage, because similar experiences and concerns shape how openly people share and how the group functions. Mixing freshmen and seniors introduces a wide gap in maturity, life experience, and school responsibilities. Younger students may feel overwhelmed or overshadowed by older peers, while older students might dominate discussions or steer topics toward experiences that younger members can’t relate to. This can undermine trust, reduce equal participation, and complicate confidentiality, since issues discussed by seniors may be more sensitive or advanced than what younger students feel ready to handle in front of an older peer group. The result is a less safe, less engaging environment where some voices stay quiet and others carry more influence. While other pairings—like mixing genders or adjacent grades—can be handled with clear norms and skilled facilitation, the freshmen-senior contrast poses the most significant barriers to productive, confidential group work.

Adolescent group work thrives when members are close in age and developmental stage, because similar experiences and concerns shape how openly people share and how the group functions. Mixing freshmen and seniors introduces a wide gap in maturity, life experience, and school responsibilities. Younger students may feel overwhelmed or overshadowed by older peers, while older students might dominate discussions or steer topics toward experiences that younger members can’t relate to. This can undermine trust, reduce equal participation, and complicate confidentiality, since issues discussed by seniors may be more sensitive or advanced than what younger students feel ready to handle in front of an older peer group. The result is a less safe, less engaging environment where some voices stay quiet and others carry more influence. While other pairings—like mixing genders or adjacent grades—can be handled with clear norms and skilled facilitation, the freshmen-senior contrast poses the most significant barriers to productive, confidential group work.