title: Shared Reading: assessing the intrinsic value of a literature-based health intervention.
abstract: Public health strategies have placed increasing emphasis on psychosocial and arts-based strategies for promoting well-being. This study presents preliminary findings for a specific literary-based intervention, Shared Reading, which provides community-based spaces in which individuals can relate with both literature and one another. A 12-week crossover design was conducted with 16 participants to compare benefits associated with six sessions of Shared Reading versus a comparison social activity, Built Environment workshops. Data collected included quantitative self-report measures of psychological well-being, as well as transcript analysis of session recordings and individual video-assisted interviews. Qualitative findings indicated five intrinsic benefits associated with Shared Reading: liveness, creative inarticulacy, the emotional, the personal and the group (or collective identity construction). Quantitative data additionally showed that the intervention is associated with enhancement of a sense of 'Purpose in Life'. Limitations of the study included the small sample size and ceiling effects created by generally high levels of psychological well-being at baseline. The therapeutic potential of reading groups is discussed, including the distinction between instrumental and intrinsic value within arts-and-health interventions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Longden
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.affiliation: School of English, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lampropoulou
authors.affiliation: The Reader Organisation, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Farrington
authors.affiliation: School of English, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Rhiannon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corcoran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003071:Cognition; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008091:Literature; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D011932:Reading; D018401:Sample Size; D013850:Thinking; D006113:United Kingdom; D035862:Vulnerable Populations