Bibliotherapy as a hope-building tool in educational settings

Benefits of Positive Psychology-Based Story Reading on Adolescent Mental Health and Well-Being

“…Previous research also demonstrated that by utilising therapeutic reading, participants displayed heightened cultural awareness, more empathy, and more effective problem-solving skills (Forgan, 2002 ; Pehrsson & McMillen, 2010 ). Recent research has also stressed that reading activities can be used by mental health services to promote well-being and mental health by cultivating psychological resilience, coping strategies, self-confidence, hope, social relationship, healing, personal growth, and reducing emotional disturbance (Lucas et al, 2019 ; McCulliss, 2012 ).…”

“…Storytelling/story reading/story-acting play-based interventions have been found to promote mental health in young adults (McCulliss & Chamberlain, 2013 ). Story reading as a therapeutic approach has also been shown to lead to reduction in depression symptoms and improvement in well-being (Billington et al, 2010 ), to be effective in building the levels of hopeful thinking (Lucas et al, 2019 ), and promote healthy social/emotional growth and maintain positive mental health (McCulliss & Chamberlain, 2013 ).…”

“…Evidence from studies support the positive effect of reading on health and well-being (Latchem & Greenhalgh, 2014 ). Lucas et al ( 2019 ) highlighted that bibliotherapy (a projective indirect intervention involving storytelling or the reading of specific texts to treat psychological disturbance) can be used in building social relationships, empathy, resilience, solving problem skills, self-confidence, and assertiveness. In their review study, Latchem and Greenhalgh ( 2014 ) argued that although there are encouraging results concerning the positive effects of reading as a therapeutic approach, the available results should be considered with caution because of a lack of randomisation and small numbers of participants in the conducted studies.…”

Fostering Hope with Children's Literature

“…Using children's literature to cultivate hope involves intentionality in not only the texts educators use (McNair, 2008(McNair, , 2016Nganga, 2020), but also involving students in understanding how to access hope in terms of their needs, goals, and wants (Lucas et al, 2019;Snyder et al, 2002). Furthermore, working toward a stance of hope means creating community.…”

“…Independent reading may seem an unlikely practice to associate with hope. However, independent reading can serve as a way for students to actualize the elements of setting goals, making plans, and taking action rather (Lucas et al, 2019) students can reflect on personal experiences that they may not be ready to process in the larger group. Independent reading is built on three principles: opportunities to read, access, and choice.…”