Does reading increase prosociality? Linking book reading with adolescents' prosocial behavior

Abstract

Prior research on media's influence on prosocial behavior often focuses on the effects of watching TV/films, playing video games, and listening to music. Yet, less attention is paid to book reading, a traditional media use that continues to be prevalent, especially in adolescents' daily lives. Going beyond the specific content reading, this study explores the relationship between general book reading and the prosocial behavior of adolescents. Based on nationally representative data, Study 1 identified the positive impact of adolescents' book reading on their prosocial behavior. From a normative influence perspective, Study 2 validated the finding of Study 1 and unpacked the underlying mechanism. Theoretically, these two studies extend the literature on the effects of media use on adolescents' prosocial behavior and highlight the role of normative influence in understanding this relationship. Practically, our findings are valuable references for practitioners in the book publishing industry and generate beneficial insights for adolescents' prosocial education.