Teens who read for pleasure—rather than just for school work—are more likely to have professional careers as adults than those who don't crack open books for leisure

By Lauren Barack May 10, 2011 , the School Library Journal

Teens who read for pleasure—rather than just for school work—are more likely to have professional careers as adults than those who don't crack open books for leisure, says a study conducted by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Researchers asked more than 17,000 people born in 1970 about how they spent their downtime when they were 16 years old and their careers when they turned 33. Girls who enjoyed reading had a 39 percent chance of finding a professional position, compared to 25 percent who didn't. Boys had a 58 percent chance if they were diving into books, compared to 48 percent who hadn't.

While bookworms, so to speak, have always been considered more studious and more likely to do well in school—and potentially in their careers—pinpointing how the ability to excel connects to reading hasn't always been exact.

"My only observation is that kids who read tend to be more intent on completing tasks because they can get back to their book," says Barbara Fecteau, a library media specialist with the Beverly High School in Beverly, MA. "This may or may not give them better focus. Also, being used to dropping into other lives and worlds in fiction definitely makes for a more creative thinker!"

Reading also showed up as a marker for increasing a student's likelihood of getting into college—raising a boy's chances to 35 percent from 24 percent and a girl's chances to 30 percent from 20 percent. For those who also took part in a cultural activity, such as playing the violin or visiting museums, their chances of getting into college jumped to 54 percent for boys and 48 percent for girls.

However, extracurricular activities didn't affect career success alone. Reading for fun, it seems, is the magic ingredient—something school librarians, teachers, and parents have long touted.

"According to our results, there is something special about reading for pleasure," says researcher Mark Taylor. "The positive associations of reading for pleasure aren't replicated in any other extracurricular activity, regardless of our expectations."

This article originally appeared in the newsletter Extra Helping.

http://www.slj.com/slj/articlereview/890530-451/teens_who_read_for_pleasure.html.csp