Bibliotherapy for well-being: Effect of twelve archetypes through a Selfawareness skills program on health perception and quality of life among librarians

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Knowledge and Information Science, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Hamedan , Iran

2 Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of bibliotherapy through the implementation of a self-awareness skill development program based on the twelve archetypes of the personality journey on librarians’ perceived health and quality of life in public libraries in Hamadan Province, Iran.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with an unequal control group was employed. The sample consisted of 40 librarians (20 women and 20 men), randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data collection tools included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The experimental group participated in 16 bibliotherapy sessions based on personality journey archetypes, using two main sources: The Hero Within by Pearson and Awakening the Hero Within by Adson (2014). Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) in SPSS.
Results: Results revealed significant differences between the experimental and control groups in psychological well-being, physical health, and overall quality of life. Bibliotherapy led to improvements in physical health (η² = 0.258), psychological health (η² = 0.299), and overall quality of life (η² = 0.480).
Conclusions: Bibliotherapy focused on self-awareness and archetypal personality journeys positively influenced librarians’ mental health and life quality. As the first study in this domain, it offers valuable insights for educational and professional development planning in librarianship, particularly in enhancing self-awareness and professional autonomy.

Keywords


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