Can leisure reading enhance college students' social emotional competencies: A large-scale empirical study

Abstract

Numerous studies have explored the relationship between leisure reading and self-cognition as well as social cognition. However, there is a gap in the existing literature regarding whether leisure reading can predict college students' social emotional competencies (SEC). This study, based on survey data from 14,372 college students across 184 universities in Mainland China, examined the predictive role of leisure reading on SEC. The results indicated that: (a) Leisure reading significantly predicted SEC, with more frequent engagement in leisure reading correlating with higher SEC; (b) leisure reading had the strongest predictive effect on recognizing and managing relationship with oneself, followed by recognizing and managing relationship with collectives and making responsible decisions, and lastly, recognizing and managing relationship with others; (c) leisure reading had a stronger predictive effect on college students who come from rural areas and whose parents have lower educational levels; and (d) within the 75th quantile, the predictive effect of leisure reading on SEC, although fluctuating, was higher than the average effect. Above the 75th quantile, the predictive effect of leisure reading on SEC was below the average effect and showed a decreasing trend. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding within the academic community regarding the importance of leisure reading and offer recommendations for universities to enhance the development of students' SEC.