Work

Cognitive effects and correlates of reading fiction: Two preregistered multilevel meta-analyses.

Year: 2024

Type: article

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: = .16, 95% CI [0.13, 0.19]. This effect was moderated by outcome variable (effects were greatest for verbal abilities, followed by general cognitive abilities and empathy/mentalizing/outgroup judgments), fictionality of the print material (greater effects were found for fiction than nonfiction), publication status (published work exhibited greater effects than unpublished work), type of assessment measure (larger effects emerged when neither the outcome nor print exposure were assessed via self-report, than when either the outcome or print exposure were assessed via self-report), participant group (community samples showed greater effects than student samples), study design (greater effects were found for correlational than for experimental designs), and percentage of female participants (via a negative relationship with cognitive benefits). Together, these meta-analyses provide robust evidence for a small-sized positive relationship between reading fiction and cognitive benefits. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Source: Journal of Experimental Psychology General

DOI: 10.1037/xge0001583

Authors: Lena Wimmer, Gregory Currie, Stacie Friend, Jörg Wittwer, Heather J. Ferguson

Institutions: University of Freiburg, University of York, Birkbeck, University of London, University of Kent

Language: English

Topic: Media Influence and Health

Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: Templeton Religion Trust

Award: G8117691408