Individual reading characteristics in overcoming difficult life situations: the role of genre preferences and biographical reflection

This study is dedicated to a comprehensive analysis of the role of individual reading characteristics as a psychological resource in overcoming difficult life situations (DLS). The focus of the study is on: 1) the genre preferences of readers (fiction vs. popular science literature) and their connection with the effectiveness of coping strategies; 2) the level of biographical reflection as a factor mediating the therapeutic effect of reading; 3) the differentiation of psychological mechanisms influencing emotional regulation and cognitive processing of crisis experiences by various literary genres. The relevance of the work is due to the lack of empirical data on the specifics of using reading as a tool for coping with DLS in contemporary psychology. The aim was to identify the relationship between reading characteristics (genre preferences, biographical reflection) and the effectiveness of overcoming life difficulties. The study systematically categorizes the role of reading practices in the context of common crisis states such as emotional burnout, loss of loved ones, and financial difficulties, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study involved 103 respondents (ages 18–64, M=36.8, SD=10.1). The following methods were used: 1) an author questionnaire "I-Reader" to assess reading habits and motives; 2) an author questionnaire "Indicator of Life Difficulties 'It Matters'"; 3) M.V. Klementyeva's method for measuring biographical reflection. Qualitative analysis and correlation analysis (Spearman’s ρ) were applied. The main findings of the study indicate that 72% of respondents with a high/medium level of reflection use reading as a means to cope with DLS. Three key difficult situations were identified: emotional burnout (68%), loss of loved ones (54%), and financial difficulties (49%). A positive correlation was also discovered between the preference for popular science literature and overcoming loss, as well as a negative correlation between the frequency of reading fiction and its therapeutic effect. The obtained results are significant for the fields of psychology, pedagogy, and bibliotherapy. Practical applications include: 1) the development of psychological assistance programs based on reading; 2) the integration of popular science literature into rehabilitation practices; 3) optimization of library recommendations for people in crisis situations. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that it for the first time demonstrates the differentiation of genre effects in the context of reading psychology, where popular science texts serve a cognitive-adaptive function, while fiction serves a recreational one.