The Effect of Bibliotherapy on Social Anxiety

This research was conducted to examine the effect of bibliotherapy on social anxiety levels in individuals with social anxiety disorder. The study group of the research was created by selecting 45 people with the highest levels of social anxiety among 400 volunteer candidates. A 3x(3) split-plot experimental design (experimental, placebo and control groups; pretest, posttest and follow-up test) was utilized in the research. As data collection tools, the researcher uses Personal Information Forms and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. The independent variable is the bibliotherapy program and the dependent variable is the level of social anxiety. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups (experimental, placebo and control). The experimental group received a seven-session bibliotherapy program while the placebo group received seven sessions of group counseling based on communication skills. The control group did not receive any intervention. The follow-up test was conducted four weeks after all groups' post-test measurements were applied. Data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis H, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks, and Friedman tests. The results of the analysis show that there was a statistically significant decrease in terms of social anxiety levels between the pretest and post-test in the experimental group. Although a decrease in social anxiety levels was observed also in the placebo and control groups, this difference was not statistically significant. While there was no significant difference between the experimental group's post-test and follow-up test scores, there was a significant difference between the pre-test, post-test and follow-up test scores in the placebo group. As for the control group, no significant difference was observed.