Motives for volunteering are associated with mortality risk in older adults.

Abstract

This study adds to the existing literature on the powerful effects of social interactions on health and is the first study to our knowledge to examine the effect of motives on volunteers' subsequent mortality. Volunteers live longer than nonvolunteers, but this is only true if they volunteer for other-oriented reasons.

Helping hands, healthy body? Oxytocin receptor gene and prosocial behavior interact to buffer the association between stress and physical health

“…Prior research indirectly links the caregiving system with health by showing that prosocial behavior only promotes health and well-being when accompanied by other-focused motivations (Gillath et al, 2005;Konrath et al, 2012) or when extended towards valued others (Poulin et al, 2010). However, a more direct way to study the role of caregiving in health is to examine a key biological mechanism that supports caregiving: the function of the neurohormone oxytocin.…”

“…Recent research supports this view: under acute stress, individuals can become more, not less, prosocial (von Dawans et al, in press). Paradoxically, however, seeking to support others for the express purpose of benefiting the self may be self-defeating, given that prior research has found that such motivations actually undermine the benefits of prosocial behavior (Gillath et al, 2005;Konrath et al, 2012). These prior findings indicate that it may be impractical to advise individuals to cope with stress by engaging in prosocial behavior.…”

“…Indeed, volunteering or providing care for close others predicts reduced morbidity and mortality (e.g., Brown et al, 2003;Konrath et al, 2012;O'Reilly et al, 2008), and increased psychological well being (e.g., Brown et al, 2008;Poulin et al, 2010;see Post, 2007, for an overview).…”

Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior

“…Media, advertising, and other popular culture sources reinforce the idea that pampering oneself can lead to increased subjective well-being, reduced stress, and bolstered physical health. Despite these popular notions, however, empirical evidence suggests that prosocial, rather than selffocused, behavior is linked with positive health outcomes (Brown et al, 2003(Brown et al, , 2009Brown and Brown, 2015;Burr et al, 2016;Konrath et al, 2012). Given the strong links between prosocial behavior and broad, long-term physical health outcomes (i.e., cardiovascular disease risk, mortality), surprisingly few studies have experimentally tested whether increasing prosocial behavior leads to improvements in biological processes that may potentially mediate these long-term outcomes.…”

Can Text Messages Make People Kinder?

“…People with more empathic character traits are also prone to healthier lifestyles, such as less alcohol and tobacco consumption (Adams, 2010;Kalliopuska, 1992), and not surprisingly, they also have better physical health (Dillon & Wink, 2007;Ironson, 2007;Konrath & Fuhrel-Forbis, 2011b). In addition, high empathy in doctors, therapists, and teachers is associated with better outcomes in their patients and students (Aspy & Roebuck, 1972;Beck, Daughtridge, & Sloane, 2002;Chang, Berger, & Chang, 1981;Coffman, 1981;Derksen, Bensing, & Lagro-Janssen, 2013;Kurtz & Grummon, 1972;Truax, et al, 1966;Waxman, 1983;West et al, 2006).…”