A comparative study on the effects of digital reading and print reading on children's reading engagement and story comprehension

Digital reading has become increasingly common among young children, raising questions about its impact on early reading development. However, its effects on children's reading engagement and comprehension remain unclear. This study examined the differences between digital and print reading, as well as the role of adult accompaniment, in 202 children's engagement and story comprehension, using a combination of observational, experimental, and assessment methods. Children's behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, verbalizations, and story comprehension were evaluated. Results showed that digital reading enhanced behavioral engagement and comprehension more than print reading. Adult accompaniment improved behavioral and emotional engagement but did not affect comprehension. Age influenced these outcomes and moderated the effects: digital reading's benefit on comprehension was stronger for younger children, whereas older children gained more behavioral engagement from adult accompaniment. No interaction effect was found between reading medium and accompaniment. These findings highlight the importance of age-appropriate reading strategies that combine adult support with digital media to foster early reading development.