Young readers and family life satisfaction

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to examine satisfaction with the quality of personal and family life perceived in young people who read as a cultural leisure activity. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1085 Riojan students, aged between 15 and 19. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out. Reading ranks third among the preferred cultural practices of young people from La Rioja, with girls being the most readers. In addition, students who perceive having a poorer quality of family and personal life are the ones who read the most. Therefore, a prospective analysis is suggested to analyse whether reading could be a refuge from everyday problems, as well as a provider of solutions for them. Finally, family-shared cultural leisure is not a common practice in this group, which leads to proposal statement for reflection and action that would promote this habit, given that previous studies have reported its many personal and family functioning benefits.