Topic for pondering/debate: Literature and the effects of hope fulfillment

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In their 2004 article, "Psychological processes underlying literary impact" (Poetics Today 25: 265-281), Gerrig and Rapp say,

"We believe that literary experiences in which hopes are rewarded have implications for readers' everyday lives."

Hope is certainly a sustaining and inspiring emotion, with hope fulfillment bringing pleasure, and the emotions experienced while reading narratives are felt as "real," even without belief that the narratives reflect real people in real situations. Would a steady diet of literary hope-gratification, like from reading romance novels, actually provide benefits to the readers' lives beyond their enjoyment of the books?