There is a clear link between regular reading and social and emotional development and awareness—the greater access a child has to books in school and at home, the more likely he or she are able to cultivate an appreciation for diverse experiences and develop empathy for others (Cleaver, 2020). What’s more, “understanding others’ mental states is a crucial skill that enables the complex social relationships that characterize human societies,” write Kidd and Castano in their 2013 study, adding that “reading uniquely engages the psychological processes needed to gain access to characters’ subjective experiences” and increase understanding of the world around us and how others’ act within it (p. 1). In their 2018 review of research on bibliotherapy—a therapeutic approach employing books and other forms of literature to support a patient’s mental health—Mumbauer and Kelchner underscore the efficacy of bibliotherapy as a treatment option for anxiety and depression. What’s more, James and colleagues (2015) found bibliotherapy to be as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy for children with anxiety disorders, and as early as 1998, cognitive bibliotherapy was found to reduce depressive symptoms for adolescents (Ackerson et al., 1998). In addition to the clear value books (both fiction and non-fiction) and reading have on mental health, even 30 minutes of reading is shown to have a measurable impact on physical health—significantly decreasing systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate (Rizzolo et al., 2009). With such clear research and such promising results, it is unfortunate that, as Mumbaur and Kelchner point out, “practical application strategies for school counselors are scarce (2017, p.86).” When it comes to using books as a prescription for stronger minds and bodies—especially now, in the wake of a global pandemic, educators, healthcare workers, families, and communities need as many tools as possible to keep people thriving.
READING FOR LIFE: THE IMPACT OF YOUTH LITERACY ON HEALTH OUTCOMES 9
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