The influence of bibliotherapy on child perfectionism

Abstract

Perfectionism is a personality disposition characterized by the setting of excessively high performance standards. Several studies have proved the relationship between perfectionism and psychological maladjustment in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of bibliotherapy based on children's literature -more properly, literature therapy- on perfectionism levels in children. A quantitative investigation with explanatory scope and quasi-experimental design (pretest-posttest, one group) was carried out. A brief program of bibliotherapy was applied to 16 children with extreme perfectionism (≥ P75), who were in 4th and 5th grade of primary education -i.e., children aged 9-10- in a private school in Caracas. The literary selection used consisted of eight children's stories written and illustrated by European and American authors. Perfectionism was evaluated with the Venezuelan version (Aguilar & Castellanos, 2017) of the Scale of Childhood Perfectionism (Oros, 2003). Bibliotherapy achieved statistically significant decreases in the scores of children in perfectionism and their dimensions (p < .01). These results coincide with previous empirical evidence referred by foreign investigations. The application of reading therapy in similar contexts is recommended. Certain adjustments could be made to maximize its effects and improve experimental control.

Keywords

• perfeccionismo infantil
• biblioterapia
• literapia
• literatura infantil
• niños venezolanos