It is claimed that moderate anxiety could be treated this way. The scientific term is bibliotherapy, and you will get a lot of references on more than one search engine if your search contains the words bibliotherapy, stress, bibliography.

You can start with the ALA page on bibliotherapy: http://www.ala.org/tools/bibliotherapy

And search for guides on LibGuides: http://libguides.com/community.php?m=s&it=0&search=bibliotherapy

Then, you should perhaps see the annotated bibliography (1936-1970): http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED076936 or look for other bibliotherapy works on ERIC: http://eric.ed.gov/?q=+bibliotherapy

The topic is also covered in the press, e.g.:

"Bibliotherapy: How Books Can Treat Anxiety, Depression" (2012)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/bibliotherapy_n_1817968.html

"When doctors prescribe books to heal the mind" (2013)

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/12/22/when-doctors-prescribe-books-heal-mind/H2mbhLnTJ3Gy96BS8TUgiL/story.html

As Hristina pointed out, there is a whole bunch of literature out there on bibliotherapy and reading as a means for health promotion, prevention, stress reduction, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Interestingly, the same is true for writing and journalling, not only since James Pennebaker et al.

Another questions is what this does to the librarians and booksellers themselves - when they now sell or 'prescribe' a therapeutic agent (e.g., see J Ment Health. 2014; 23 (1): 15-9 (doi: 10.3109/09638237.2013.815332): Librarian or counsellor? A pilot study of the experiences of library staff in one healthy reading scheme in Ireland, by P. Neville.

Be good! Tobias

What I find difficult to understand (and therefore evaluate the eventual success) about writing is whether it makes people feel good because it fights stress (irrespective of one's writing skills) or just because people feel good about writing because they know they are good at it, or because they love it (and perhaps some become addicted).

Maybe a complex therapy involving writing, reading and painting could be reduced to prescribing learning an Asian language.

Thank you very much for your answers. The question came up to me after some Facebook friend told me that she relaxes while reading books. I have never heard of that field before and therefore your answered helped me to see that there exists some research. Bibliotherapy doesn't really seem to hit the point, because I am not so much interested in books that clients could read to educate themselves on the subject of stress, but I wondered whether reading for example a novel or a crime will help to reduce stress when you dive into the story of the book and whether it has a longer lasting effect on the stress level. Does anybody know anything about that?

I think that could be interesting, because it helps to live a resilient life.

Gudrun, bibliotherapy is not about educating people on stress, it is "prescribing" books incl. fiction, not necessarily self-help books - which have to do with the issues that patients have to deal with, that is why it is called biblio-therapy. It is also described as ''directed reading" or ''textual healing" (http://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21587757-book-balm-also-known-bibliotherapy-textual-healing).

If you read the articles and sites which I provided above, you will understand. Some popular fiction books have been quoted as examples.

Thank you for your answer Histina.

Hi, though I am from totally different major, but the question took my attention because I do feel that. Maybe cuz I like doing it and that give me some feeling of getting more knowledge. that could be the reason.

Anyway, this reference might help, where, reading is included in the list:

Chapter: (Recalled relaxation states and preferred relaxation activities: II)

Author: Lewis, Jacquie.

Source: Smith, Jonathan C [Ed]. (2001).

Book name: Advances in ABC Relaxation: Applications and inventories. (pp. 190-192). xviii, 300 pp. New York, NY, US: Springer Publishing Co; US..

Here is the abstract of that chapter:

(from the chapter) The present study examines 32 causal relaxation activities identified as "most rewarding and effective." 225 males and females (average age 28.73 yrs) were given the Smith Recalled Relaxation Activities Inventory scored for various relaxation states and activities. Ss identified a wide range of preferred relaxation activities. The most popular included reading fiction, watching TV, taking baths and showers, listening to music, and resting in bed. Interestingly, these are not particularly effective for evoking relaxation states of mind other than Sleepiness, and are equally as ineffective for physical relaxation. These activities are likely to involve too much discursive activity to have a deep relaxing impact. Meditation and Prayer, the most passive and simple techniques studies, evoke the widest range of relaxation states, particularly those involving high affective energy. In contrast, Joy is likely to be associated with discursive playful activities. Implication and limitations of this study are briefly addressed.

best wishes