Cultural factors and their impact on reading comprehension

Abstract

Reading comprehension is an essential competence for learning and cognitive development, the effectiveness of which is influenced by various cultural factors. This study analyzed how the socioeconomic context, reading practices at home, linguistic traditions, and access to cultural resources affect the reading performance of elementary and middle school students. A mixed approach was adopted that combined literature review and empirical data collection through questionnaires and standardized reading comprehension tests. The results revealed that family environments with consolidated reading habits, the use of culturally relevant materials and the social valuation of reading favor greater performance in the evaluations. On the other hand, language barriers, lack of cultural stimulation, and limited access to libraries and digital resources had a negative impact on the comprehension process. These findings highlight the importance of designing contextualized pedagogical strategies that integrate cultural diversity as a resource to enhance reading skills.