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A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity

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  • Bavishi, Avni
  • Slade, Martin D.
  • Levy, Becca R.

Abstract

Although books can expose people to new people and places, whether books also have health benefits beyond other types of reading materials is not known. This study examined whether those who read books have a survival advantage over those who do not read books and over those who read other types of materials, and if so, whether cognition mediates this book reading effect. The cohort consisted of 3635 participants in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study who provided information about their reading patterns at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were based on survival information up to 12 years after baseline. A dose-response survival advantage was found for book reading by tertile (HRT2 = 0.83, p < 0.001, HRT3 = 0.77, p < 0.001), after adjusting for relevant covariates including age, sex, race, education, comorbidities, self-rated health, wealth, marital status, and depression. Book reading contributed to a survival advantage that was significantly greater than that observed for reading newspapers or magazines (tT2 = 90.6, p < 0.001; tT3 = 67.9, p < 0.001). Compared to non-book readers, book readers had a 23-month survival advantage at the point of 80% survival in the unadjusted model. A survival advantage persisted after adjustment for all covariates (HR = .80, p < .01), indicating book readers experienced a 20% reduction in risk of mortality over the 12 years of follow up compared to non-book readers. Cognition mediated the book reading-survival advantage (p = 0.04). These findings suggest that the benefits of reading books include a longer life in which to read them.

Suggested Citation

  • Bavishi, Avni & Slade, Martin D. & Levy, Becca R., 2016. "A chapter a day: Association of book reading with longevity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 44-48.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:164:y:2016:i:c:p:44-48
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jeremy M. Jacobs & Robert Hammerman-Rozenberg & Aaron Cohen & Jochanan Stessman, 2008. "Reading Daily Predicts Reduced Mortality Among Men From a Cohort of Community-Dwelling 70-Year-Olds," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 63(2), pages 73-80.
    2. Verena H. Menec, 2003. "The Relation Between Everyday Activities and Successful Aging: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 58(2), pages 74-82.
    3. Olsen, Rolf Bang & Olsen, Jørn & Gunner-Svensson, Finn & Waldstrøm, Bodil, 1991. "Social networks and longevity. A 14 year follow-up study among elderly in Denmark," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1189-1195, January.
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    2. Rena, Melinda & Fancourt, Daisy & Bu, Feifei & Paul, Elise & Sonke, Jill K. & Bone, Jessica K., 2023. "Receptive and participatory arts engagement and subsequent healthy aging: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    3. Sara Suárez-Fernández & David Boto-García, 2019. "Unraveling the effect of extrinsic reading on reading with intrinsic motivation," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 43(4), pages 579-605, December.
    4. Kannan, Viji Diane & Peters, Kelly & Chapman, Benjamin P., 2023. "The relationship between adolescent reading habits and older adult social engagement – A longitudinal cohort analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).

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