Reading Habits and Academic Performance of Human Ecology Undergraduate Students During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected the education sector and the students’ learning outcomes. Studies have found that adolescents’ reading habits, whether from leisure or academic reading, significantly influence their academic performance. Thus, this study determined the relationship between academic and leisure reading habits, particularly the frequency, duration, and preferred and actual reading materials, with the academic performance of Filipino college students in the context of flexible learning during the pandemic. The 153 respondents completed an online survey through Google Forms. Using descriptive statistics, the findings revealed varying amounts of time spent reading for academic and leisure purposes, but students are more inclined to read for educational purposes. Using correlational analysis, it was found that the more time students spend reading academic materials, the higher their general weighted average (GWA) is. Further, the more time students spend reading academic journals, the higher their GWA is. No significant relationship was found between their leisure reading habits and academic performance. It is recommended that students read their academic materials daily to achieve good academic performance.