In today’s society, media continues to grow at a rapid rate. New movies, video games, and social media posts are always ready for people to experience with a single touch. However, one activity continually shrinks away from the spotlight: print media. The U.S. ranks in average time spent reading weekly. The number of U.S. citizens who read for pleasure daily went from 27 percent to 16 percent between 2003 and 2023.
On a county-wide and state level, results show that student literacy and reading have taken a considerable drop. According to the Future Ready PA Index, student scoring in the proficient or advanced range of the statewide ELA Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Literature Keystone tests has decreased by 12 percent in Pennsylvania and nearly six percent in the East Penn School District since the 2019-2020 school year. As academic scores and interest in literature decline, people and society are damaging their overall mental health and losing important social skills.
Research demonstrates that reading can reduce stress levels more than any other common stress-relieving method. In a study by the University of Sussex, participants who read for only six minutes saw their stress levels drop by 68 percent. Reading requires concentration, so attention can be drawn away from the problems causing stress, allowing heart rate and breathing to slow.
Reading is vital to forming empathy and understanding various perspectives. By reading stories about different experiences from one’s own, individuals can learn more about different thoughts and ideas separate from what they usually encounter. Whether or not they agree with the beliefs of the characters or the author in a work, reading books helps everyone to think about their view, which increases overall understanding of others.
This is especially important in a society with so many heavily polarized and varying beliefs, which often create conflict and negative exchanges. When presented with a belief different from one’s own, the skills learned subliminally through reading can help prevent tension and instead foster connection.
Reading also helps to expand your vocabulary. Learning new words and becoming more familiar with the English language can help life both in and out of school. When going for a job interview, think about how important a strong vocabulary can be. Important moments like these are when language skills learned from reading can come into play, which are often incredibly useful throughout one’s life.
Reduction in stress can be very beneficial when trying to go to sleep. Slowed heart rate and breathing trigger the parasympathetic nervous system in the body. Once activated, this system reduces muscle tension, making it easier to relax. On the other hand, researchers from the University of Harvard and the University of Toronto have proven that digital screens are shown to reduce levels of melatonin, the hormone that manages sleep cycles. Without this important agent, people are unable to stay asleep for long periods of time, taking away from the rest their bodies need.
Reading can also improve health by positively impacting the brain. According to Nadine Gaab, a Harvard Medical School associate professor of pediatrics, reading can expand and strengthen white matter pathways in the brain. These pathways link different sections of the brain to each other, constructing a person’s cognitive function. Stronger pathways help people significantly with problem-solving, memory, and critical thinking.
Reading is crucial for improving attention span and focus. Reading requires full concentration for its comprehension, so the brain is also taught to become more focused when completing other tasks. While some other forms of media also require attention, they don’t have the same effect. For example, the immense amount of posts within social media platforms teaches the brain to skip through topics instead of focusing on them, creating the opposite effect that reading has.
Through reading, one can strengthen social skills, such as understanding and vocabulary, which are essential to everyday interactions. One can improve their mental health by reducing stress and strengthening their brain. Better habits of sleep and focus are formed, which will help society form better students and people.
So, as society continues to turn away from reading, the positives that are being thrown away can be seen as well. Without strong social skills or sound mental health, society’s ability to function becomes increasingly difficult. Through reading, these benefits can be captured for people’s use, turning reading into a tool that can help in so many different aspects of life.
Check out the infographic in the December 2025 issue.
