Breaking the silence through bibliotherapy: reducing public speaking anxiety among earthquake-affected secondary school students
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN84269226 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN84269226 |
| Sponsor | Adiyaman University |
| Funder | Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye |
- Submission date
- 25/06/2026
- Registration date
- 10/07/2026
- Last edited
- 10/07/2026
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year
Plain English summary of protocol
Not provided at time of registration
Contact information
Dr İbrahi̇m Doyumğaç
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
University of Adiyaman, Department of Turkish and Social Sciences Education
Adiyaman
02100
Türkiye
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-8234-7555 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +90 5317170494 |
| ibrahim63doyum@gmail.com; idoyumgac@adiyaman.edu.tr |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Open (masking not used) |
| Control | Active |
| Assignment | Parallel |
| Purpose | Treatment |
| Scientific title | Breaking the silence through bibliotherapy: a randomized controlled trial to reduce public speaking anxiety among earthquake-affected secondary school students |
| Study acronym | BST |
| Study objectives | The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured bibliotherapy intervention in reducing public speaking anxiety among earthquake-affected secondary school students. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 07/10/2025, Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Adiyaman University, Adiyaman, 63000, Türkiye; +90 (416) 223 38 00 (ext 1025); sbek@adiyaman.edu.tr), ref: 07/10/2025-212 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Public speaking anxiety experienced by earthquake-affected secondary school students following the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes |
| Intervention | Participants were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group participated in a 12-week structured bibliotherapy programme integrated into Turkish language lessons. The programme consisted of one session per week and was based on carefully selected children's literature addressing themes such as emotions, resilience, communication, courage, and self-expression. Each session included guided reading, group discussion, reflective activities, structured speaking exercises, and bibliotherapeutic activities designed to help students recognize and regulate emotions, strengthen psychological flexibility, and reduce public speaking anxiety. The programme was developed according to the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The control group continued to receive the standard Turkish language curriculum implemented by the Turkish Ministry of National Education without any bibliotherapy intervention. Participants completed outcome measures before the intervention (pre-test) and immediately after the 12-week intervention (post-test). Randomization was performed at the participant level within each participating school. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) | |
| Completion date | 16/01/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 12 Years |
| Upper age limit | 15 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 135 |
| Total final enrolment | 119 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Secondary school students (Grades 5–8) enrolled in public schools in the earthquake-affected region of Adıyaman, Türkiye 2. Students directly affected by the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes 3. Ability to understand and participate in Turkish language instruction 4. Provision of written informed consent by parents or legal guardians and assent from the students 5. Willingness to participate throughout the 12-week study period |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Did not provide informed consent/assent 2. Were absent during the intervention or assessment sessions 3. Failed to complete the pre-test or post-test assessments 4. Withdrew from the study before completion |
| Date of first enrolment | 08/10/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 13/10/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Türkiye
Study participating centres
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
26/06/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by Social and Human Sciences Research Ethics Committee.
