Our prior study of Growing Up in New Zealand data that described children’s experiences of reading for pleasure in Aotearoa New Zealand concluded that reading for pleasure may be important for children as part of a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. This study explores in greater depth and complexity the effects of reading for pleasure from birth to age 10 to 11 on children’s wellbeing.

In this study through statistical methods we examine reading affect, which is defined as the intensity of experience when reading with others. Children’s reading affect prior to the pandemic and wellbeing during the pandemic are examined. Furthermore, we consider whether, adjusting for other factors, reading affect at age 8 may have influenced children’s wellbeing during the pandemic.

Aim:
To examine relationships between reading for pleasure and children’s wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.  

Objectives:  
• To investigate whether children’s reading affect prior to the COVID-10 pandemic may have influenced children’s wellbeing during the pandemic.  
• To investigate whether reading affect may be a protective factor for children’s wellbeing.  

Research questions:
1. What are the relationships between children’s reading affect prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and their wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic?
2. Was reading books with others influential on children’s wellbeing during the pandemic?  
3. How are relationships between wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic and reading affect relevant to the wider wellbeing of children and young people in Aotearoa New Zealand?