Research on Storytelling and Resilience in Children

Storytelling methods and interventions help improve resilience in children. A systematic review from the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing has shown that resilience-themed and positive psychology-based storytelling can help children recognize their internal strengths for handling life’s challenges.

The review also found that storytelling was linked to better emotional regulation and conflict-resolution skills, and it allowed children to experience a sense of caring and love, which makes them feel more capable of positively influencing their own lives.

These findings are especially important given that children are vulnerable to stressful and fast-paced environments. The challenges they face early in life can be very impactful, and these impacts may last until adulthood.

The Systematic Review

The search was done by Chandra Ramamurthy and Karl Andriessen, with help from the University of Melbourne Library Services. They focused on finding studies involving children aged 0 to 10 years. These studies could use different methods to gather information. More importantly, the studies needed to provide real, measurable results.

Different tools were also used to measure resilience and mental health in children. For example, the Ego-Resiliency Q-Sort (ER-11) looked at overall resilience, while the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (R-CADS) checked for anxiety and depression.

The review revealed that storytelling interventions effectively boost resilience in children by reducing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. Studies demonstrated that storytelling helps children manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and improve their coping skills, which serve as “protective factors” against anxiety.

Furthermore, storytelling interventions allowed children to realize their strengths and resources. They also help teachers by giving them tools to support vulnerable students in the classroom.

“Stories like fairy tales and fables are valuable psychological tools. They enable children to understand and express important life events that might be hard for them to talk about,” the researchers wrote in the review article.

They added that storytelling promotes resilience by presenting characters’ experiences in a positive light.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) found that children and adolescents lacking emotional resilience were likely to suffer from depression, especially those with over four adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

To help build resilience, parents and caregivers can try these storytelling interventions:

• Pick a story with a moral or lesson. It could be a story about the main character facing obstacles but keeps trying or making a mistake, learning from it, and growing as a result.
• Keep the language simple. Children should be able to grasp the message easily, so avoid using complicated words. Your goal is to make sure the resilience lesson comes through.
• Incorporate positive affirmations. Affirmations are great for reinforcing a resilient mindset. Share them in the middle of the story or after the story. Examples are “I am always doing my best” and “Every day I am getting better and better.”

"Storytelling helps healthcare professionals like psychiatric nurses and social workers connect with children by building trust and empathy," the authors wrote. They added that stories can be adapted to different cultures and social settings to make them more sensitive and relatable.

Looking for more ways to build resilience in your child or teen? Check out our Resilience worksheet or Building Resilience handout.