The Influence of Bibliotherapy towards the Emotional and Mental Health of College Students

Abstract

This study examined the association between bibliotherapy and the perceived emotional and mental health of college students in Davao del Sur, Philippines. A descriptive regression design was used, and data were collected from 199 college students from public and private higher education institutions through quota and convenience sampling. Respondents were students who had engaged with library-based reading or reader advisory services and had borrowed or read selected literary, fiction, or self-help materials. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to measure perceptions of bibliotherapy, emotional health, and mental health. The instrument underwent expert validation and reliability testing before data collection. Mean scores and simple linear regression were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that students had a very high perception of bibliotherapy, with enhancing empathy receiving the highest mean score and improving coping skills receiving the lowest, although both remained within the strongly agree category. Students also reported a very high perception of emotional health, with emotional resilience rated highest and emotional expression rated lowest. Mental health was likewise rated very high, with psychological well-being receiving the highest rating and cognitive clarity the lowest. Regression analysis showed that bibliotherapy was a significant positive predictor of perceived emotional health and perceived mental health. The results suggest that bibliotherapy may serve as a supportive educational and library-based strategy for promoting self-awareness, empathy, coping, emotional regulation, resilience, positive thinking, and psychological well-being among college students. However, the findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal because of the study design and sampling method.