Study reveals if altruism contributes to better health outcomes

New research indicates that acts of altruism not only benefit recipients but also improve the physical and mental well-being of those who give.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and Georgetown University have found that activities like volunteering, charitable giving, and blood donation positively affect both givers and receivers, even when givers expect nothing in return.

"Finding joy in helping others is fundamental to who we are as a species," said Elizabeth Dunn, professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia.

A 2008 study led by Dunn demonstrated that people who spent money on others reported greater happiness than those who spent on themselves, regardless of the amount. The researcher gave participants either $5 or $20 and instructed them to spend it either on themselves or someone else. A larger 2020 follow-up study involving nearly 8,000 participants confirmed these findings.

The benefits extend beyond emotional well-being into physical health. Research published in 2019 found that individuals who performed altruistic acts experienced reduced sensitivity to physical pain, including electric shocks and tourniquet pressure, compared to those who did not engage in altruistic behavior. Cancer patients in the study reported temporary relief from chronic pain after helping others.

Brain imaging during these altruistic acts revealed decreased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, the pain-related regions of the brain, while showing increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the area associated with giving meaning to the altruistic act, according to the research.

"It changes how you think about yourself as a person. It sort of fosters your belief in a world of people who try to help each other," said Abigail Marsh, professor of psychology and interdisciplinary neuroscience at Georgetown University.

The positive effects of altruism appear to persist over time. A 2018 study reported that people who helped others maintained higher levels of life satisfaction and job satisfaction, along with fewer symptoms of depression, for up to two months following their altruistic acts.

Shawn Rhoads, postdoctoral research fellow in computational psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explained that altruistic behavior likely involves brain regions connected to reward processing and the medial prefrontal cortex, which appears to play a key role in valuing others' welfare.

The innate nature of altruism is supported by research showing that even toddlers under age two display joy when sharing. In a 2012 study by Dunn and colleagues, young children showed more happiness when giving away snacks than when receiving them.

These findings appear consistent across different cultures worldwide, suggesting an evolutionary basis for altruistic behavior. Researchers note that happiness and altruism seem to reinforce each other: happier people tend to help more, while those who help others experience increased happiness.

"We are such a social species that doing things that help others around us is just very deep in our core," Marsh said. "It's something that most people are built to want to do."

The positive effects of altruism extend beyond direct participants. According to Rhoads, who co-authored a chapter on the relationship between altruism and well-being in the 2023 World Happiness Report with Marsh, "People who observe acts of altruism also tend to feel better about and less cynical about the word in general."

The researchers themselves incorporate their findings into their daily lives. Dunn participates in a Vancouver meal program called Plenty of Plates, while Marsh volunteers with a nonprofit organization she co-founded that assists families dealing with aggression disorders.

"If things are hard, you often don't feel like going out of your way to do the things that will help other people around you," Marsh said. "But, in fact, that may be actually one of the best things you could do." 

According to the researchers, this growing body of evidence points to altruism as not just a moral choice but a biological imperative that promotes both individual and social welfare.