Reading and Mental Health

Scientists have proven that humans have been reading and writing for about 5,000 years.^[4] This can be traced back to 3,000 BCE in Ancient Mesopotamia.^[4] Literacy rates have drastically risen in the last 200 years.^[4] Reading has not only been used for acquiring knowledge and information from academic fields, but has long been a staple activity done for pleasure. I am unsure if it was always consciously well-known, but reading has now been proven to impact mental health. 

I fell in love with books at the tender age of 4. Once I learned how to read on my own, I became consumed by a plethora of stories written by children’s authors. My love for reading evolved as time went on. As a teen, reading became an escape from the effects of teenage angst. In a 2021 study by Civic Science, it was discovered that 44% of adults read for fun every single day. Therefore reading is a healthy escape.^[3] 

When you go to the doctor, they sometimes ask you if you have been experiencing any stress or anxiety lately. Stress levels are at an all-time high due to the state of the world. Relational and systemic problems plague our daily lives. If your doctor advised you to read more as a form of routine stress management, would you do it? We are often tense, we may feel our muscles aching and our chests tightening when feeling stressed. “Reading can lower your heart rate and ease tension in your muscles.”^[2] 

I mentioned that reading was an escape from my teenage angst and it is still one of my favorite escapes. Reading is deemed a healthy escape for a multitude of reasons. It helps us to become more creative, more understanding, feel less alone, etc. Most people can create visuals as they read. This allows them to become further entrenched in what they are reading. Literary fiction, in particular, has been found to improve empathy. This is due to the fact that “literary fiction focuses more on the psychology of characters and their relationships.”^[1] I am an avid reader of literary fiction and I become enthralled by the inner worlds of a character or all characters presented in a story through introspective dialogues. Literary fiction is a genre that emphasizes social behaviors and often teaches readers about human differences. This, in turn, may help us to develop a better understanding or empathy for those who are different from us. At the same time, we must keep in mind that different book genres can help us become more resilient, and empathetic as well as help us with social skills, mindfulness, and so on.

I have recently discovered “Bibliotherapy.” According to Psychology Today, it is a mental health intervention that is basically reading therapy. “It mainly refers to structured book reading programs run by libraries, clinics, or schools with the purpose of promoting recovery in people with mental health difficulties. The term bibliotherapy is also used to refer to self-initiated book reading pursued by an individual with mental illness. This can be supported by a clinician, family member or peer supporter, or pursued alone.” ^[5] 

“Several studies have examined whether bibliotherapy can facilitate recovery from mental illness.”^[5] According to multiple studies, women read more than men do. However, reading can benefit everyone’s mental health, and I would like to encourage people to try finding books or genres that they enjoy reading. If you do not like to read physical books or e-books, you can try listening to audiobooks. While reading will not fully eradicate the mental health crisis in the United States, it can improve your mental health. 

Reading should be accessible to everyone. There are often literacy programs at public libraries that will assist in learning how to read. I would also like to encourage others to obtain a library card. “I am aware that this is not always possible due to not having a permanent home address, among other reasons, among other reasons, but it is worth trying.” A library card can give you access to free books and programs in person and through apps like the Libby app. Additionally, places to purchase inexpensive books include eBay and local used bookstores. Since reading can be a healthy coping strategy, it is important to be aware of the benefits that reading can offer to individuals and the benefits to mental health. Reading may have a surprising impact on your life! 

References

[1] Chiaet, J. (2013, October 4). Novel Finding: Reading Literary Fiction Improves Empathy. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/novel-finding-reading-literary-fiction-improves-empa thy/ 

[2] National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2020). Why Reading is Good for Mental health. NAMI California. https://namica.org/blog/why-reading-is-good-for-mental-health/ 

[3] Rittenberg, J. (2021, June 10). 44% of U.S. Adults Who Like to Read, Do So for Fun Every Day. CivicScience. https://civicscience.com/44-of-u-s-adults-who-like-to-read-do-so-for-fun/#:~:text=In%20a%20ne w%20survey%2C%20CivicScience,for%20fun%20every%20single%20day.

[4] University of Texas Permian Basin. (2024). The Evolution of Literacy Education. University of Texas Permian Basin. 

[5] Whitley, R. (2019, May 24). Can Reading Books Improve Your Mental Health?. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-men/201905/can-reading-books-improv e-your-mental-health