Exploring Empathy, Stress, and Narrative Transportation among Fiction and Nonfiction Readers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25215/1301.060Keywords:
Empathy, Stress, Narrative Transportation, Fiction, Nonfiction ReadersAbstract
Fiction and nonfiction literature are two distinct genres, with fiction rooted in imagination and storytelling, while nonfiction is grounded in factual accuracy and real-world events. Reading, irrespective of genre, enhances empathy, decreases stress, and fosters narrative transportation—the process of becoming immersed in a story. Despite extensive research on the benefits of reading, limited studies have directly examined the relationship between empathy, stress and narrative transportation on the basis of genre. The present study aims to compare the degree of change in empathy and stress levels in adults as a result of reading fiction or nonfiction and to study the role of narrative transportation in mediating these effects. Participants were divided into two groups–Group A read fiction, while Group B read nonfiction. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen et al.,1983), the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (Spreng, McKinnon, Mar & Levine,2009) in the pre-assessment and post-assessment surveys, as well as the Narrative Transportation Scale (Green & Brock, 2000) weekly. The study revealed that individuals with higher stress levels experienced greater narrative transportation while reading. Additionally, participants reading nonfiction demonstrated higher levels of sympathetic physiological arousal compared to those reading fiction. The findings underscore the transformative potential of reading, providing valuable insights for educators, mental health practitioners, and literary enthusiasts in selecting literature to enhance well-being and empathy.Metrics
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Published
2025-03-31
How to Cite
Vidhi Golchha. (2025). Exploring Empathy, Stress, and Narrative Transportation among Fiction and Nonfiction Readers. International Journal of Indian Psychȯlogy, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.25215/1301.060
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