Prosocial Behavior Improves Well-being
Prosocial behavior is conduct that is intended to help others. One example is volunteering. Research indicates that behavior intended to benefit others increases happiness, improves mental health, reduces stress and loneliness, and lowers blood pressure and mortality rates.
Researchers were interested in whether prosocial behavior or self-care had a greater impact on well-being. They randomly divided 777 participants into three groups: prosocial behavior (kindness to others); self-care (kindness to self); and a control group. Participants in the prosocial and self-care intervention groups were instructed to perform three acts of kindness each week for two weeks.
They discovered that:
Compared to the control group, the prosocial group experienced significant decreases in depression, anxiety, and loneliness from pre-intervention to post-intervention, and
Compared to the control group, the self-care group experienced significant decreases in depression, but no differences in anxiety, and loneliness.
Takeaway: Helping others can improve depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Source
Maria Naclerio, et al., Exploring the effects of prosocial and self-kindness interventions on mental health outcomes - PubMed, Aug 28, 2025.