Much research on emotional well-being and resilience provides the same type of advice: exercise regularly, eat healthy, cultivate a sense of meaning and purpose, and be kind to others. But, as suggested recent research, the latter can be a bit more complex than it seems.
Published in Psychological Bulletin, the meta-analysis looked at 201 studies of behavior defined as "prosocial", which encompasses attributes like cooperation, trust, compassion y altruism, and its effect on health and quality of life in general.
According to lead author Bryant Hui, prosocial behavior tends to have a significant impact on a societal level because it could affect numerous people. For example, volunteering can have a big impact over time.
However, there was only one connection modest between prosocial behavior, physical health and psychological function. It's not a huge boost either, but it's still significant.
What does it mean to be a good person?
It turns out that certain types of behavior provide more feel-good power than others. Random acts of kindness that were not planned (for example, helping an elderly neighbor carry groceries or pay for a friend's coffee after a long journey) tended to be more associated with greater general well-being than more scheduled and planned activities, such as volunteer at a race.
Part of that could be the social connection you get from feeling that spontaneous kindness. Informal giving and altruism also tend to feel less like an obligation and more like a gift.
Another find was a increased sense of well-being with kindness that leads to feeling a deep sense of meaning, compared to the kindness that only a fleeting moment of happiness or positivity offers.
The effects varied by age, with younger participants receiving a greater emotional boost, while older participants reported improved health effects. Additionally, women noted more connections between kindness and well-being than men.
Does this mean you can avoid being nice if it doesn't have the health effects you wanted? Neither that. We will always defend prosocial behavior, which is a universal virtue and part of the shared culture of humanity. Being a good person and having kind gestures does not cost money, and can improve your health.