Breaking the silence through bibliotherapy: reducing public speaking anxiety among earthquake-affected secondary school students

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. CONDITION: Public speaking anxiety experienced by earthquake‐affected secondary school students following the 2023 Türkiye earthquakes ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Public speaking anxiety measured using Public Speaking Anxiety Scale at Baseline (pre‐intervention) and immediately after completion of the 12‐week bibliotherapy intervention (post‐intervention). INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Secondary school students (Grades 5–8) enrolled in public schools in the earthquake‐affected region of Adiyaman, 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