1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The objective of this storybook intervention was to promote refugee children’s ability to identify and manage their feelings and decrease their anxiety symptoms. Thus, the present study aims to explore the impact and value of a novel intervention for refugee children as perceived by the refugee families and to determine whether it is appropriate and feasible for this population.» (p. 4)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«To evaluate the impact and value of this storybook intervention, the following research questions were explored: “does the storybook decrease anxious symptoms?,” “does the storybook have a positive impact on well-being?,” “does the intervention increase feelings of agency and family connectedness?,” and “does the intervention succeed in being culturally relevant?”.» (p. 4)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample consists of six families [who] are newly resettled Syrian refugees who live in Montreal, Québec. Data were gathered with both the children and mothers. Both mothers and fathers were invited to participate […], but the mothers chose to be the principal contributors.» (p. 4) «The intervention consists of an illustrated interactive storybook, including four different stories. In each story, a different protagonist is depicted in a difficult situation.» (p. 4) «After each reading, the mothers and children […] wrote in a journal. The journals included open-ended questions to gather information about the children’s thoughts and feelings about the storybook […].» (p. 5)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

In this present study, the authors found that «[the] storybook [intervention] promoted children’s sense of agency, as they took pride and contentment in taking responsibility for the characters and helping them solve their problems. Children who experience violence and instability, such as refugee children, often have difficulties with self-regulation leading to elevated anxiety symptoms (Tyson, 2005). Thus, promoting their sense of agency can help offset difficulties associated with self-regulation and anxiety.» (p. 8) Authors then concluded that, «early intervention is [therefore] crucial for their adaptation and healthy development. The Cognitive Behavioral Processes Storybook intervention yielded promising results as there was a significant decrease in the children’s levels of anxiety symptoms. In addition, qualitative analyses revealed that the intervention is culturally relevant to Syrian refugee families and that it successfully promotes children’s overall well-being, agency, and family connectedness.» (p. 8)