The Effect of Group Bibliotherapy on the Self - Esteem of Girls Living in Dormitory

Bibliotherapy is a supplementary method for behavior treatment and promotion performed via cooperation of librarians with psychologists or physicians. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of group bibliotherapy on self-esteem of girl students living in dormitory at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012.
This is an interventional semi-experimental and applied study. The statistical population of the study consisted of 5160 female students who resided in dormitories and the sample including 64 students were divided randomly between the control and the case groups (32 students each). Data were collected using Cooper Smith Self-esteem questionnaire scale both in the pretest and the posttest. The case group received eight sessions of two-hour group bibliotherapy for two months. The groups were then assessed in a posttest after 1 month of intervention. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (mean and frequency distribution) and analytical statistics (independent t- test, paired t- test and Mann Whitney) via SPSS 20 software.
Group bibliotherapy showed significantly positive effects on total self-esteem as well as general, family and scholastic scales in the case group, but it showed no effects on their social self-esteem. There was also a meaningful difference between the mean scores of the two groups after intervention.
Group bibliotherapy can increase self-esteem levels of girl students who live in dormitories. It is suggested that the method be applied to improve the other psychological problems because of simplicity, affordability, and availability.