DOING GOOD DOES more than give you a
warm glow—new research shows that volunteering can actually add healthy years to your
life. Per a new study published in BMC Public
Health, adults who volunteer may live longer,
healthier lives, and experience a 20-percent
drop in mortality, less depression and higher
levels of life satisfaction. And according to a
Carnegie Mellon University study, adults over
50 who volunteer regularly are 40 percent less
likely to develop high blood pressure.
Younger volunteers reap benefits, too.
Canadian researchers found that adolescents
who volunteered one hour per week improved
their cardiovascular and mental health, dialing
down cholesterol and body mass index, and
increasing levels of empathy and compassion.
How volunteering boosts health
Why does volunteering bring health
gains? It relates to altruism, or the sel;ess concern for others, says Costco member Peter J.
Economou, a cognitive and behavioral psychologist in Bloom;eld, New Jersey. Volunteer
work helps people connect around a shared
purpose and combats social isolation, which is
linked to poor health outcomes, he notes.
Physical and mental bene;ts to volunteer
work abound because of the happiness factor,
notes social psychologist Deb Carlin, author of
Build the Strength Within: Create the Blueprint
for Your Best Life Yet (SelectBooks, 2014; not
available at Costco). Simply put, volunteering
does the body good because it makes people
feel good, and positive feelings are linked to
lower levels of stress and greater overall health
and happiness.
According to Carlin, volunteering fosters
deep happiness because it satis;es a primal
human wish to solve problems and work
together. “Our every thought is paired with an
emotion, and these pairings release neurotransmitters throughout our bloodstream and regulate our mood and our health,” Carlin says.
“When we can contribute to solving a problem in a positive way, we’re delighted!”
Biggest bene;ts
Research shows that volunteering brings
bene;ts for all age groups, from grade-school-
ers to their great-grandparents, but the bene-
fits are particularly profound for certain
groups. ;ough there’s little downside to vol-
unteer work at any age, it seems to be more
bene;cial to adults over 65, or individuals
with health woes, Economou says, “My theory
is that it pulls people out of their own pain.”
;ose experiencing symptoms of disease
or illness also can experience signi;cant gains;
research shows that patients with chronic pain
have lower levels of depression and fewer
painful symptoms while volunteering.
But that doesn’t mean that those without
health troubles should sit it out, because
everybody can bene;t from volunteering,
Carlin says: “;e act of providing for another,
of extending kindness, boosts your own
strength and resilience. Serving as a volunteer
is healthy for people at any age, for any gender
and any race.”
Give back, get better
According to Carlin, most volunteer work
will bring health gains, but some volunteer
gigs may be more bene;cial than others. For
the biggest health boost, volunteer work
should be regular and ongoing; in the Carnegie
Mellon study, volunteers who experienced
health bene;ts clocked 200 hours of service
per year (that’s just under four hours per
week). Another study pointed to 100 hours
per year (around two hours per week) as the
sweet spot for boosting health.
Service work outside the home that
requires some physical activity—such as sort-
ing donations at a thri; shop, handing out
water at a local charity walk or caring for the
grounds at a church or school—may be the
most bene;cial.
Perhaps most important, Carlin says, is
;nding a volunteer activity that aligns with
your own gi;s and talents. ;ose with strong
nurturing instincts can help soothe babies in a
crisis nursery; outdoor enthusiasts can pitch in
at a park cleanup; bibliophiles can work in an
adult literacy program. “Know yourself, and
;rst discover what brings you the most satisfaction and what you’re capable of,” Carlin says.
“If it’s a good match, everybody wins.” C
Costco member Malia Jacobson, a nationally
published journalist, enjoys volunteering with
her family in and around her hometown of
Tacoma, Washington.
Harness the
health bene;ts of
volunteer work
By Malia Jacobson
Volunteering
with kids
KIDS AND TEENS can benefit from
volunteering, too, according to Simon
Lockyer, founder of the online giving
platform everydayhero.com.
Giving children ownership over
their volunteer efforts increases motivation and satisfaction, says Lockyer.
Allow children to choose how
they’d like to give back. Get kids on
board by tying volunteering to an activity they already enjoy. Animal lovers can
volunteer at a shelter; athletic teens can
work at a youth camp; foodies can staff
a soup kitchen.
Volunteer as a family to get toddlers
and preschoolers involved. Families can
work at a food bank together, deliver
meals or groceries, or help tend community gardens.—MJ
for your health
Help others,
help yourself
