A counterfactual and random intercept cross‐lagged panel analysis of the effects of reading frequency on adolescent mental health in a large longitudinal study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Reading has been proposed as a protective factor in mental health; however, evaluating this is challenging due to a lack of trials and the possibility of confounding in observational studies. Methods: We used the complementary approaches of covariate balancing propensity score weighting and random intercepts cross-lagged panel models in the large longitudinal Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood study. Outcomes were measured from age 13 to 20 for anxiety and depression and at age 20 for psychosis-like symptoms. Results: After accounting for potential confounding there were no significant effects of reading frequency on adolescent mental health across either approach. Conclusion: Increasing reading frequency without considering motivation, content and style of reading engagement is not a promising protective factor in adolescent mental health.
Source: JCPP Advances
DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.70075
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,705
Awards: G115628676, G1690790857, The Zurich Study on the Social Development of Children and Youth: Phase III, Preventing problem behaviour during the transition from childhood to early adolescence: A semi-experimental longitudinal study, G3141404134, The Zurich Project on the Social Development of Children, Phase 2, G4645113736, The Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood: Phase VI, The Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood: Phase V, G6143406765, The Zurich Study on the Social Development of Children and Youths: Phase IV, G957171197
OpenAlex ID: W4416542188