Fiction Book Reading and Wellbeing: A Qualitative Investigation Across the Lifespan, 2023-2024

McGeown, Sarah and Currie, Nicola and Webber, Charlotte and Moss, Gemma (2025). Fiction Book Reading and Wellbeing: A Qualitative Investigation Across the Lifespan, 2023-2024. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-857903

This project examined readers’ perspectives of the relationship between their fiction book reading and wellbeing (positive affect, connection, personal growth) across the lifespan. In individual interviews, children (n = 24, aged 9-11), young people (n = 19, aged 15-17), adults (n = 20, aged 31-46) and older adults (n = 15 aged 63-83) answered the same interview questions to reflect on their fiction book reading experiences in relation to these wellbeing concepts, in addition to the social context of their reading experiences.

Data description (abstract)

This project aimed to examine readers’ perspectives of the relationship between their fiction book reading and wellbeing, focusing on three wellbeing concepts (positive affect, connection, personal growth) to gain depth of understanding into these. In addition, the social contexts of their reading experiences were also examined. The study took a lifespan approach, through individual interviews (total n = 78) with children (n = 24, aged 9-11), young people (n = 19, aged 15-17), adults (n = 20, aged 31-46) and older adults (n = 15 aged 63-83). More details of the project, including outputs to date, can be found here: https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/literacylab/previous-projects/readwell/

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