@mastersthesis{bal2025literary,
  author = {Bal, Onur},
  title = {Literary Work Readership and Its Relationship with Mentalisation and Empathy},
  school = {Yeditepe University},
  year = {2025},
  type = {Master's thesis},
  url = {https://onurbal.com/en/academics/thesis/}
}

5.2. Mentalisation and Literary Exposure

Contrary to Hypothesis 4, literary exposure did not significantly predict mentalisation, either at the overall level or in its self- and other-oriented components. After accounting for demographic variables, existential concerns, and anxiety, the number of books read from the literary fiction list failed to show any independent or interaction effects in any of the models. These findings challenge the commonly proposed link between literary fiction and enhanced theory of mind abilities, particularly those captured by mentalisation measures such as the MentS. These results stand in contrast to prior claims that literary engagement enhances mentalising capacity, particularly in terms of understanding others’ intentions and perspectives. One possibility is that participants’ recollection of having read these works may not reflect current or immersive reading habits capable of influencing mentalising ability.

Although literary exposure did not emerge as a significant predictor, trait anxiety and existential concerns were robustly associated with mentalisation scores, with differential patterns across subdomains. Specifically, self-oriented mentalisation was strongly negatively predicted by both existential concerns (β = -.30) and trait anxiety (β = -.40), suggesting that heightened internal distress or existential uncertainty may impair reflective capacity about one’s own mental states. By contrast, other-oriented mentalisation was positively predicted by existential concerns (β = .23) and negatively by trait anxiety (β = –.33), indicating that awareness of existential issues may sensitise individuals to others’ inner worlds, while chronic anxiety may impede this process.

Age also emerged as a significant predictor in the self-oriented and overall mentalisation models, with older participants reporting greater reflective capacity. Male sex was associated with lower mentalisation scores in overall and other-oriented domains. Education level and income did not significantly contribute to any mentalisation outcomes. No interaction terms, between literary exposure and existential concerns or anxiety, reached significance, and none improved the models’ explanatory power.

In sum, these findings suggest that mentalisation, particularly in its self- and other-related aspects, is more closely linked to psychological distress and existential sensitivity than to literary engagement. While literary fiction may contribute to empathic capacities, its role in supporting the reflective dimensions of mentalisation appears limited within the context of this study.