Investigating the association of reading habits and attitudes with meaningful living: The mediating role of subjective well-being

This study explores the impact of reading habits on Turkish language teachers' perception of a meaningful life, with a particular focus on the mediating role of subjective well-being. Drawing upon positive psychology and narrative identity theories, the research aims to highlight the cognitive and emotional mechanisms through which reading fosters existential meaning. Data were collected from 328 Turkish language teachers through validated self-report scales and analyzed using path analysis with structural equation modeling (SEM). Both direct and indirect effects were tested using bootstrapped mediation analysis. The results revealed that reading habits and attitudes significantly predicted perceptions of a meaningful life, both directly and indirectly via subjective well-being. Although the direct path was modest in effect, subjective well-being emerged as a strong mediator. No significant demographic differences were found regarding perceptions of meaningful living. The findings suggest that reading is not merely an intellectual activity but a multidimensional experience that contributes to personal meaning-making and psychological well-being. The study underscores the need for teacher education programs to integrate reading as a tool for holistic development, extending beyond professional competence to emotional and existential enrichment.