It’s official: reading is good for you, according to a new report from The Reading Agency which looked at the effects of reading for pleasure on adults and children. Benefits include increased empathy, better relationships with others, reduced symptoms of depression and risks of dementia and improved well-being throughout life.
The Reading Agency, a charity whose mission is to inspire people to read more, commissioned the large-scale study to help it evaluate the impact of the work it carries out. Researchers analysed 51 papers and reports, all published within the past 10 years, most of which aimed to assess the impact of reading on literacy and academic success. But this study looked for the non-academic side effects of reading for pleasure, which included better communication between parents and children, increased self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress and a greater understanding of other cultures.
