Abstract
PurposeThis article explores, identifies and conceptualises everyday audiobook reading practices amongst young adults.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Swedish audiobook users aged 18–19. The material was analysed using qualitative content analysis and focused on their audiobook use during an average weekday, as this was the time that they listened the most. The theoretical framework consists of theories on practice, time and everyday routine.FindingsFive timespaces emerged when audiobook practices were most prevalent: morning routines, commuting routines, school routines, after school routines and bedtime routines. Within these timespaces, several practices could be identified and conceptualised. Three mobile practices were commute listening, exercise listening and chore listening while more stationary practices were homework listening, schoolwork listening and leisure listening. An unexpected finding was how audiobooks routinely were used to aid respondents’ wellbeing. This wellbeing listening was used to alleviate stress, loneliness and help listeners relax or fall asleep. Furthermore, respondents switch between Music, Audiobooks and Podcasts, which is conceptualised as MAP-switching.Originality/valueThere is a scarcity of research on audiobook use, and this paper contributes with new knowledge on audiobook reading practices, how audiobooks fit into everyday routine and provides concepts to aid further research on audiobook practices.
Highlights
This article explores everyday audiobook reading practices amongst young adults
A study on daily media usage among the Swedish population show that young people aged 15–24 spend 147 min listening to music, 74 min listening to podcasts and 57 min reading printed books during an average day (Nordicom, 2021)
This finding may help explain how users spend over an hour and a half listening to audiobooks during an average day, and how audiobooks fit into everyday routines
Summary
This article explores everyday audiobook reading practices amongst young adults. Audiobooks have been rising in popularity in recent years and are becoming part of everyday routines for many people (Have and Stougaard Pedersen, 2020; Tattersall Wallin and Nolin, 2020). In Sweden, where this study is set, there has been an increase in audiobook use amongst young adults aged 16–29. Young adults are some of the most avid readers of audiobooks, together with people aged 30–49 (Wallin et al, 2021). The most common way of accessing audiobooks are subscription services for digital books, but they can be downloaded from libraries and online bookshops (Wallin et al, 2021). Access to Internet connection and use of Internet services and digital technology is very high among the Journal of Documentation Vol 78 No 7, 2022 pp.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
