Question: Is there any research on the effects on a teenager of long-term solitary reading? My 17-year-old son Darin spends all his spare time reading. I have a feeling that this cannot be all good, but I haven’t been able to find studies on the subject.

Answer:

Many parents would be delighted to have their child reading a lot, and reading is typically solitary after age 8 or so. So, reading between the lines of your question, I’m guessing you’re concerned about an imbalance in Darin’s life. The problem is almost certainly not the actual reading, but the lack of social activities that your question implies. And yes, that can be troublesome, although it isn’t necessarily so.

I’ve attached some links to research studies to get you started in finding answers to your question. They include the developmental psychology literature showing huge individual differences in people’s interests, temperament, and preferences. Some people are naturally more introverted than others, and prefer solitary pursuits like reading to spending time with others. As long as they’re contented with their lives, that isn’t a problem.

There is, however, a lot of other research showing the critical importance of social support to coping, resilience, happiness, and fulfilment. People who have stronger, more vibrant networks of social support do better on every scale of well-being and success. That would confirm your sense that too much time reading—when it’s done in a vacuum of social connection—isn’t all good.

For a review article of individual differences in emotionality, social temperament, and health:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fhomepage.psy.utexas.edu%2Fhomepage%2Fgroup%2Fanimpersinst%2FAnimal%2520Personality%2520PDFs%2FC%2FCapitanio%2C%25202011.pdf

Some places to start looking for more on individual differences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperament

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_psychology

https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpersonality-project.org%2Frevelle%2Fpublications%2Fhid_overview.final.pdf

The bottom line with all this is that it’s a question of balancing two factors: respect for individual differences between people (whereby some don’t need or want much social time) and the basic human need for social connection.

If—as your question implies—Darin’s interests are more solitary than social, you can do your best to encourage and foster social interactions that he might enjoy, even if the extent of ‘society’ for now is just one or two people. Other social activities might include participating in online reading discussion groups, or contributing book reviews to websites like Goodreads, Amazon, or e-zines.

But it’s also important to respect Darin’s needs for alone time. By adolescence, people need to find their own way, and the role of parents is more as available guide than as active instigator. The challenge of parenting at adolescence is to let go, with love and respect, becoming reactive rather than proactive in our children’s lives.

That being said, if your concerns include mental health issues, then it’s time to consult a professional. The professional would need a lot more information before being able to reassure you or suggest some kind of intervention.