Influencing Mechanisms of Time-Space-Interest Factor on Readers’ Language and Literature Reading Behaviors: Mediation by Interest Category Scope and Moderation by Their Interaction

Abstract

This study explores the influencing mechanisms of time-space-interest (TSI) factors on readers’ reading behaviors in the field of language and literature, with a specific focus on the mediating role of interest category scope and the moderating effect of interactions among these factors. Data were derived from nine-year (2016–2024) borrowing records of H-category books (language and philology) from the Library of Nanjing Normal University, encompassing a sample of 15,312 unique readers, 27,151 distinct books, and 129,643 valid borrowing transactions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to extract two key factors: TSI and Spatial Interest (SI) factor. SPSS PROCESS Model 4 was then employed to test the mediating effect of interest category scope. The results indicate that interest category scope exerts a partial mediating effect on the relationship between the TSI factor and total borrowing volume—with the indirect effect accounting for approximately 10.5% of the total effect, which was validated through bootstrap analysis. Notable differences in reading preferences were observed across reader groups: undergraduate students prioritize practical foreign language learning (corresponding to H3 category), graduate students emphasize theoretical linguistics (H0 category) and advanced Chinese studies (H1 category), while staff members demonstrate scattered interests in applied and interdisciplinary areas. Subject word clustering analysis identified eight core academic categories (e.g., language teaching, literary studies, historical linguistics), shedding light on the thematic focuses and interdisciplinary connections within language and literature research. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how time, space, and interest interact to shape reading behaviors. It also provides actionable insights for library resource management, the optimization of reader services, and the design of academic research in the domains of language and literature.