“Galaxy Stress Research” (2009) by Dr David Lewis / Mindlab International at the University of Sussex — claims
What the Study Claims
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Reading silently for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by about 68%. (Telegraph)
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That stress reduction effect is greater than other common relaxation methods tested, such as:
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Listening to music (≈ 61% reduction) (Telegraph)
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Having a cup of tea or coffee (≈ 54%) (The Indian Express)
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Going for a walk (≈ 42%) (Telegraph)
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Playing video games (≈ 21%) (Baby Domain)
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The study also reports that after reading for six minutes, participants' heart rate slows down, and muscle tension eases. The reading actually reduces stress to levels lower than before the stress-inducing task. (Telegraph)
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The reasoning given is that reading engages the mind, distracts from worries, stimulates imagination, and shifts brain activity out of the “fight or flight” response, allowing more relaxed physiological states. (blogs.ncl.ac.uk)
How It Was Carried Out (Methods, as Known)
From what is publicly described (note: the full published paper is not easily found, so many details come from media summaries rather than a peer-reviewed article):
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Participants: A “group of volunteers” were recruited. It’s not clear in public sources exactly how many, what age range, or how they were selected. (Telegraph)
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Stress induction: Before testing relaxation methods, their stress levels and heart rates were raised via “a range of tests and exercises.” The precise nature of these stressors is not fully disclosed in the reports I've seen. (Telegraph)
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Relaxation interventions: After the stress induction, participants were exposed to different relaxation or decompression activities: reading silently, listening to music, having a cup of tea or coffee, taking a walk, playing video games. (Telegraph)
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Measurement: Physiological measures like heart rate and muscle tension were monitored; likely self-reports of stress as well (though exactly how stress was quantified—scales, physiological markers—is not made completely clear in the summaries). (Telegraph)
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Duration: The key duration noted is six minutes for the reading intervention. (Telegraph)
Findings (More Details)
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After six minutes of reading, participants’ stress dropped by 68%, which is more than for the other methods tested. (Telegraph)
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Reading lowered heart rate and muscle tension; and importantly, in some reports, the stress dropped to below the baseline (before stress was induced). (Telegraph)
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Even though other methods helped, none matched reading in terms of stress reduction within that short timeframe. (Telegraph)
Caveats, Limitations & Questions
While the findings are attention-grabbing, there are several things to consider (because the public version of the study has gaps):
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Lack of full published paper / peer-review transparency
I did not find a full peer-reviewed journal article with all the methodological details (e.g. sample size, randomization, control for prior reading habits, etc.). Much of what is known comes from media reports. This means we can’t fully assess the rigor. -
Sample size and representativeness
Public reports do not state how many participants were involved, what their demographics were, nor whether they were physically healthy, their baseline reading habits, etc. We don’t know how generalizable the findings are (e.g. to older adults, children, people with anxiety disorders etc.). -
What “reading” means
It appears to mean silent reading of a book (or text) the participant is presumably comfortable with. But details such as genre, difficulty level, whether participants chose what to read or were assigned, the readability, etc., are not well‐reported. The emotional content might matter. -
Stress induction method
The type of stressors used (how “real” or naturalistic) will affect how applicable the results are. If the stress was lab-type stress (e.g. mental arithmetic, timed tasks), that might differ from everyday stress. Also, how long the increased stress was maintained matters. -
Measurement of stress
It’s not clear exactly which physiological markers were used (heart rate, muscle tension etc.), and whether there were other measures (e.g. cortisol). Also, whether there was a psychological self-report. How reliable are muscle tension measures (observer rated or via sensors)? Without the full methodology, hard to judge. -
Effect durability
The study focuses on very short time (6 minutes) immediate effects. It does not tell us how long the stress‐reduction lasts after reading stops, or how repeated reading sessions affect baseline stress or cumulative stress load. -
Contextual factors
The environment (quiet room? distractions?), the type of text, personal preference (if you dislike reading, it might not be relaxing for you), literacy and reading ability, cultural background—all can influence how effective reading is as a stress reducer.
Conclusion & Practical Implications
From what is known, the study suggests:
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Even very short periods of reading can provide a rapid and strong reduction in stress.
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Reading might be more effective than many other common relaxation activities (music, tea, walking) in the short term for many people, when conditions are favorable.
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Because reading is inexpensive, accessible, and portable, it can be a useful tool for stress management.
However, one should be cautious about overstating it: it’s not a cure for chronic stress by itself, results may vary, and more detailed evidence would help confirm and extend it (e.g. longer term studies, larger diverse samples, etc.).
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