Reading Mindfully Can Reduce Stress and Combat Misinformation, Study Finds

In an era where Americans check their phones more than 140 times daily and spend an average of 4.5 hours on their devices, critical reading skills have never been more essential. A striking 57% of people admit to smartphone addiction, according to ConsumerAffairs research, creating a vast audience for tech companies and content creators competing for attention.

This competition has fueled an alarming rise in misinformation across digital platforms, making strong literacy skills increasingly crucial. Yet reading comprehension scores continue to decline nationwide. Concerning trends show Gen Z parents increasingly view reading aloud to their children as a chore rather than an enriching activity, while many college students struggle to complete entire books.

Social media platforms, with their infinite scrolling and one-click sharing features, are specifically designed to encourage passive engagement. Users often turn to these platforms to alleviate boredom and escape stress, according to recent psychological studies.

Cognitive science research helps explain why scrolling conditions the brain for passive thinking. Social media algorithms intentionally feed users content similar to what they’ve already engaged with, reinforcing existing beliefs through repeated exposure. This phenomenon, known as the “illusory truth effect,” increases the believability of information when it appears from multiple sources.

“Deep reading offers an effective counter to this passive consumption model,” explains JT Torres, Director of the Harte Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington and Lee University. Torres and cognitive scientist Jeff Saerys-Foy of Quinnipiac University study how people process written information and believe deep reading can combat misinformation while reducing stress and loneliness.

Deep reading involves intentionally engaging with information in critical, analytical, and empathetic ways. It requires making inferences, drawing connections, engaging with diverse perspectives, and questioning interpretations – processes that demand significant mental effort.

This effort explains why many people avoid deep reading. It can trigger negative feelings like irritation or confusion and often feels unpleasant compared to the dopamine-driven ease of scrolling. However, research shows mindless scrolling comes with its own costs – increased boredom, loneliness, existential anxiety, and misanthropy.

In contrast, activities requiring attention and effort, while initially exhausting, can deepen one’s sense of purpose and strengthen social connections. People feel motivated to complete tasks that help them pursue personal goals, especially when these efforts are recognized by others.

“Sharing books may be one effective tool to promote deep reading,” suggests Saerys-Foy. Educational environments that pair longer texts with active discussions reinforce comprehension and interpretation skills. Evidence indicates that sustained reading in social settings promotes lifelong reading enjoyment.

Social media can sometimes support deeper engagement with content. Communities like BookTok on TikTok demonstrate that close analysis still has a place amid endless scrolling, with members posting in-depth literary analyses and recommendations.

To engage more meaningfully with information, experts recommend several strategies. Simply being aware of how digital reading practices shape brain function can encourage healthier information consumption habits. Research shows that pausing for just a few seconds to consciously evaluate information can counteract the illusory truth effect and reduce susceptibility to misinformation.

Reading deeply means intentionally varying reading speed – slowing down when necessary to wrestle with difficult passages, savor striking prose, critically evaluate information, and reflect on meaning. This approach transforms reading from mere information gathering into an interactive dialogue with the text.

For those looking to build this skill, experts suggest starting small with poems, short stories, or essays before progressing to longer texts. Reading with a partner and setting achievable goals, such as completing one chapter daily and discussing it, can make the process more engaging and sustainable.

The practice of deep reading, particularly with novels, can expand perspectives and introduce new ideas that enrich conversations with others – whether in person or even on social media platforms, creating a virtuous circle of deeper engagement with the written word.