International Journal of New Developments in Education, 2026, 8(4); doi: 10.25236/IJNDE.2026.080404.
Yuan Huixiu1, Wang Zeguang2, Nong Fuyi1, Wang Dongna1
1School of Education, Guangxi University of Foreign Languages, Nanning, China
2School of Transportation, Guangxi Vocational and Technical College of Communications, Nanning, China
This study aims to explore the intervention efficacy of an embodied narrative therapy integrating Zhuang ethnic cultural elements on alleviating trauma response and enhancing the sense of meaning in life for individuals with mild to moderate distress. A single-group pre-post intervention design was employed. Forty participants meeting the inclusion criteria for mild to moderate distress received a standardized 90-minute culturally integrated embodied narrative intervention. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) were used as assessment tools. Results showed: after the intervention, participants' total IES-R scores decreased significantly (p < 0.001), while their total MLQ scores and scores on both the "Presence of Meaning" and "Search for Meaning" subscales increased significantly (p < 0.001). This indicates that the embodied narrative therapy integrated with Zhuang culture can effectively alleviate trauma reactions and significantly enhance the sense of meaning in life for individuals with mild to moderate distress. It provides an operable, replicable, and promotable localized, culturally friendly intervention strategy for post-traumatic psychological adaptation and meaning reconstruction.
Embodied Narrative Therapy; Zhuang Culture; Meaning in Life; Trauma Response
Yuan Huixiu, Wang Zeguang, Nong Fuyi, Wang Dongna. The Impact of an Embodied Narrative Therapy Integrating Zhuang Ethnic Culture on Post-Traumatic Meaning in Life among the General Population with Mild to Moderate Distress. International Journal of New Developments in Education (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 4: 22-28. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJNDE.2026.080404.
[1] White M, Epston D. Narrative Means to Therapeutic Ends[M]. New York: W W Norton & Company, 1990.
[2] Ye Haosheng. Development and Reflections on Embodied Cognition Theory[J]. Psychological Science, 2018, 41(1): 1-8.
[3] Yang Yanchun, Qin Jinliang. Paradigm Shift in Psychotherapy from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2019, 27(5): 890-898.
[4] Van der Kolk B A, Ford J D, Spinazzola J, et al. Comorbidity of developmental trauma disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder[J]. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 2019, 10(1): 1562841.
[5] Qian Mingyi. Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy[M]. 3rd ed. Beijing: Peking University Press, 2016.
[6] Fan Fumin, Li Wei. Current Status and Prospects of Post-Trauma Psychological Intervention for College Students[J]. Tsinghua Journal of Education, 2019, 40(5): 78-85.
[7] Wang Jianping, Zhang Ning, Zhou Li. The Impact of Mindfulness-Narrative Mixed Therapy on Post-Traumatic Growth[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2021, 29(3): 501-505.
[8] Zhao Xudong, Liu Liang, Chen Fazhan. Intervention Effect of Tai Chi Integrated Narrative Therapy on Adolescent Depression[J]. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 2022, 54(8): 945-958.
[9] Huang Xiansheng. Research on the Application of Zhuang Bronze Drum Culture in Mental Health Education in Ethnic Universities[J]. Guangxi Ethnic Studies, 2020(3): 189-196.
[10] Li Hua, Zhang Li. Development and Reliability-Validity Test of a Localized Meaning in Life Questionnaire[J]. Psychological Science, 2022, 45(2): 467-473.
[11]American Psychological Association. Research Guidelines for Participant Screening and Mental Health Exclusion Criteria[J]. Washington, DC: APA, 2020.
[12] Qiao Jianzhong, Zhang Lili. Psychological Research on Meaning in Life[J]. Journal of Nanjing Normal University (Social Science Edition), 2019(2): 110-118.
[13] National Health Commission. 2021 Key Tasks for the National Pilot Program for the Construction of a Social Psychological Service System [Z]. Beijing: National Health Commission, 2021-05-13.
[14] Yuan Huixiu. The Impact of Negative Events on the Sense of Meaning in Life Among Junior High School Students: The Mediating Role of Hope and Psychological Resilience[D]. Nanning: Guangxi Normal University, 2024.
[15] Tan Xiaojing. Cultural Connotation and Contemporary Inheritance of Zhuang Brocade[J]. Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Science Edition), 2018, 40(2): 125-130.
[16] Jiang Yongzhi, Zhang Haizhong. Application of Embodied Narrative Therapy in Psychological Intervention for Adolescents in Ethnic Areas[J]. Journal of Research on Education for Ethnic Minorities, 2020, 31(4): 102-109.
[17] Sun Jinhua, Lin Chongde. Intervention Strategies for Emotional Regulation After Mild to Moderate Trauma in the General Population[J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2020, 36(3): 367-374.
[18] Shen Heyong, Gao Lan. Indigenous Psychotherapy from the Perspective of Cultural Psychology [J]. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 2019, 51(7): 827-836.
[19] Wang Yan, Zhou Zongkui. The Effect of Handicraft Creation Intervention on Alleviating Negative Emotions in Adults[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2022, 30(4): 956-960.
[20] Li Jing, Long Yao. Dilemmas and Paths of Mental Health Education for College Students in Border Ethnic Universities[J]. Journal of Minzu University of China (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 2022, 49(2): 172-180.
[21] Zhang Jing, Guo Yongyu. Construction Mechanism of Meaning in Life from the Perspective of Embodied Cognition[J]. Advances in Psychological Science, 2021, 29(6): 1067-1076.
[22] Wu Heming. The Mechanism of Narrative Therapy in Post-Traumatic Meaning Reconstruction[J]. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 2020, 34(9): 721-726.
[23] Xu Jieshun, Luo Shujie. Research on Zhuang Culture and Zhuang Ethnic Psychology[J]. Guangxi Ethnic Studies, 2019(1): 86-93.