Fiction Book Reading and Wellbeing: In‐Depth Insights From Children

Background: The relationship between book reading and psychological wellbeing is gaining interest among those working in research, policy and practice, as we seek to better understand whether, and how, reading can support wellbeing. Yet, wellbeing has historically been poorly defined within reading research, and we lack a nuanced understanding of the ways in which children's book reading may support their psychological wellbeing. Methods: Twenty‐four children (aged 9–11) from schools in England or Scotland participated in individual interviews to explore their reading experiences in depth, examining the relationship between their fiction book reading and psychological wellbeing, with a focus on the wellbeing concepts of positive affect, connection and personal growth. Results: Fiction reading supported children's (a) positive emotions, through diverse emotional experiences, (b) feelings of connection, through connection to fictional characters, story events and real‐life others and (c) personal growth, through perceptions of a range of social, emotional, intellectual and educational benefits. Conclusions: This study provides new and in‐depth insights, significantly expanding current understanding of how fiction book reading can support children's wellbeing. Educational implications, future research directions and limitations are discussed.