Reading Fiction and Psychological Wellbeing During Older Adulthood: Positive Affect, Connection and Personal Growth

The relationship between reading and wellbeing is gaining increasing interest among those working in research, policy and practice, as we seek to better understand if, and how, reading books supports wellbeing. To date, the majority of research has focused on children and young people, neglecting to consider the wellbeing benefits that reading books may have later in life. Drawing upon in-depth interviews with 15 older adults (aged 63-83) from COUNTRY and COUNTRY, we provide novel insights into how reading fiction supports feelings of positive affect (emotions elicited by, and influencing, reading experiences), connection (to fictional characters, settings, and authors, in addition to real-life others) and personal growth (lifelong reflection, empathy and enhanced understanding of others, and improved knowledge and communication). This article provides much needed nuanced insights into the role of fiction book reading later in life. Implications for practice and future research directions are suggested.