July 2, 2023
Researchers say children who start reading for pleasure early in life could end up with better test scores and mental health outcomes as teenagers.
A study published on June 28 in the journal Psychological Medicine found a strong link between reading an optimal amount of 12 hours a week and improved performance on cognitive tests later in adolescence.
The study, conducted by researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Warwick in the United Kingdom, as well as Fudan University in Shanghai, China, involved data from more than 10,000 young adolescents in the United States.
They say the study shows for the first time the “important relationships” between reading for pleasure early and cognitive development and mental well-being.
“Reading isn’t just a pleasurable experience — it’s widely accepted that it inspires thinking and creativity, increases empathy and reduces stress,” Barbara Sahakian, a professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said in a news release.