Bibliotherapy for stress management: a wellness intervention for first-year medical students

This proof-of-concept study aimed to evaluate if a library-initiated program of bibliotherapy could be effective in reducing overall levels of stress and anxiety in first-year medical students.

This mixed-methods study consisted of an Interrupted Time Series (ITS) where participants established baseline levels of stress and anxiety by completing the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) three times prior to intervention and three times following, with a bibliotherapy intervention delivered at the halfway point. Four focus groups were held following completion of the ITS with questions designed to solicit feedback related to how enjoyable and valuable participants found the study, as well as priorities for wellness.

An independent samples t-test was conducted to compare mean PSS-10 scores in the pre-intervention group to those in the post-intervention group. The results indicate no significant difference between scores pre-intervention (M= 17.85, SD=6.76) and post-intervention (M=17.21, SD=6.87, t(162)=.604, two-sided p=.547, 95% CI [-1.46, 2.75]). Focus group analysis revealed that participants found involvement in the study to be a useful component of a personal wellness or mental health maintenance program.

Quantitative results did not achieve statistical significance, but analysis of focus groups indicates that participants derived benefit from involvement in the study, particularly related to the regular self-reflection required by completing the monthly PSS-10. The study is a successful proof-of-concept, indicating that medical students derive benefit from a librarian-led bibliotherapy program as part of student wellness.