This pilot study explores the impact of psychodramatic narrative storytelling combined with expressive techniques on self-perception, emotional awareness, and psychological resilience in university students. Grounded in narrative psychology and Kolb's experiential learning theory (1984), the research employed a custom psychodramatic narrative interwoven with expressive activities such as dance, improvisation, and theatrical role-play to foster deep self-reflection and emotional processing.
Conducted in Venice, Italy, the study involved two groups of 20 first-year university students aged 19-21, recruited from diverse faculties within the same university to ensure a range of perspectives and experiences. The experimental group participated in nine 3-hour sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Each session revolved around a symbolic narrative - a journey through a forest - where participants encountered symbolic themes such as unpredictability, relationships, dreams, personal vulnerabilities, and potential. In one session, participants engaged with the metaphor of a deep lake. Guided through movements simulating immersion into the lake's depths, they confronted emotions linked to falling. At the metaphorical bottom, they encountered their reflection, symbolizing an opportunity to face hidden aspects of themselves, rediscover their core identity, and gain self-awareness. Group discussions followed, enabling participants to articulate and integrate their insights.
Preliminary results, based on an initial subset of participants, revealed significant improvements in body image perception in the experimental group (p<.01) compared to the control group (p<.001), as measured by the modified Askevold test (1975). Qualitative analysis, conducted with ATLAS.ti using thematic analysis, identified key themes, including heightened ability to navigate uncertainty, deeper self-compassion, and improved emotional articulation. Participants noted how expressive activities reinforced the psychodramatic narrative, facilitating the integration of emotional and perceptual experiences.
While analysis of the complete dataset is ongoing, these preliminary findings suggest that psychodramatic storytelling combined with expressive techniques holds promise for fostering emotional growth and self-awareness.