These studies highlight how amplifying children’s voices through storytelling mitigates abuse and builds resilience, core to StoryQuest™’s impact for all segments.

Neuroscience & Emotional Development

• Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Bremner, J. D., Walker, J. D., Whitfield, C., Perry, B. D., Dube, S. R., & Giles, W. H. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 256(3), 174–186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-005-0624-4
• Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(98)00017-8
• Immordino-Yang, M. H. (2016). Emotions, learning, and the brain: Exploring the educational implications of affective neuroscience. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN: 9780393709810 
• National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2021). Connecting the brain to the rest of the body: Early childhood development and lifelong health are deeply intertwined. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/connecting-the-brain-to-the-rest-of-the-body/
• Shonkoff, J. P., Boyce, W. T., & McEwen, B. S. (2009). Neuroscience, molecular biology, and the childhood roots of health disparities: Building a new framework for health promotion and disease prevention. JAMA, 301(21), 2252–2259. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.754
• Siegel, D. J. (2015). The developing mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. ISBN: 9781462520671 
• University of Cambridge. (2024). Neuroscience in education: Narrative engagement and learning. Cambridge, UK: University of Cambridge Press. 

Narrative Psychology & Identity

• Fivush, R., & Haden, C. A. (Eds.). (2003). Autobiographical memory and the construction of a narrative self: Developmental and cultural perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. ISBN: 9780805837568 (Added to emphasize children’s narrative development and identity construction)
• McAdams, D. P. (2018). Narrative identity: What is it? What does it do? Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 37(4), 359–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/0276236618756704
• Pennebaker, J. W., & Smyth, J. M. (2016). Opening up by writing it down: How expressive writing improves health and eases emotional pain (3rd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press. ISBN: 9781462524921

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

• Arts Council England. (2020). The value of arts and culture to people and society. London, UK: Arts Council England. https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/The_value_of_arts_and_culture_to_people_and_society_2020.pdf
• Center on the Developing Child. (2016). Building core capabilities for life: The science behind the skills adults need to succeed. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/building-core-capabilities-for-life/
• Child Development. (2023). Agency and play: Structured choice in child development. Child Development, 94(5), 1123–1136. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13945 
• Education Endowment Foundation. (2024). Social and emotional learning evidence review. London, UK: Education Endowment Foundation. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/evidence-reviews/social-and-emotional-learning
• Jones, S. M., & Kahn, J. (2017). The evidence base for how we learn: Supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic development. Washington, DC: Aspen Institute. https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/evidence-base-learn/ 

Narrative Power & Policy

• Richter, L. M., Lye, S. J., & Proulx, K. (2020). Scaling up parenting interventions in low- and middle-income countries. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(3), 239–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30393-1(Added for global perspective on parenting and storytelling interventions)
• Save the Children. (2023). Children’s voices: A global collection of stories. London, UK: Save the Children. https://www.savethechildren.org/content/dam/usa/reports/advocacy/childrens-voices-2023.pdf (Added to incorporate direct youth voices through storytelling)

Connection through play and voice empowers children against disconnection and abuse.

Parenting & Caregiver Engagement

• Daly, M., Bray, R., Bruckauf, Z., Byrne, J., Margaria, A., Pecnik, N., & Samms-Vaughan, M. (2015). Family and parenting support: Policy and provision in a global context. Florence, Italy: UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti. https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/783-family-and-parenting-support-policy-and-provision-in-a-global-context.html
• Jeong, J., Franchett, E. E., Ramos de Oliveira, C. V., Rehmani, K., & Yousafzai, A. K. (2021). Effect of a parenting programme on maternal depression in rural Pakistan. The Lancet Global Health, 9(9), e1226–e1234. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00267-8
• McLean, K. C., & Syed, M. (2015). The role of parents in adolescents’ narrative identity development. Journal of Family Issues, 36(11), 1475–1496. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X14533831 (Added to tie caregiver storytelling to narrative healing)
• UNICEF. (2020). Parenting for lifelong health: A guidance note. New York, NY: UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/documents/parenting-lifelong-health
• UNICEF. (2023). Strengthening parenting support: Policy brief. New York, NY: UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/documents/strengthening-parenting-support

Connection, Loneliness & Media Use

• Age UK. (2024). Grandparenting in the UK. London, UK: Age UK. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/work-learning/grandparenting/
• Cacioppo, S., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2018). The growing problem of loneliness. The Lancet, 391(10119), 426. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30142-9 (Added for a global perspective on loneliness as a public health issue)
• Family Lives. (2024). How bullying affects children. London, UK: Family Lives. https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying/how-bullying-affects-children
• NSPCC. (2024). Loneliness and family connection report. London, UK: NSPCC. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/news-opinion/2024/loneliness-report/
• Ofcom. (2024). Children and parents: Media use and attitudes report. London, UK: Ofcom. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/childrens/childrens-media-use-and-attitudes
• ParentZone. (2024). Digital family report. London, UK: ParentZone. https://parentzone.org.uk/research/digital-family-report 

Child Wellbeing Perspectives

• Children’s Society. (2024). The Good Childhood Report.

• Children’s Commissioner for England. (2021). The Big Ask: The Big Answer.