Volunteering engages our natural inclination to help others. We provide some form of aid or assistance for a separate cause. This shifts the focus away from our own challenges and helps us think selflessly.
There are differences between those who volunteer and those who do not. Those who volunteer tend to have higher intrinsic motivation for making a difference. Compared to those who do not volunteer, those who volunteer regularly are more likely to feel empowerment. They report higher wellbeing and lower levels of stress.
But do all these mental health advantages reflect a cause or a correlation? In other words, were volunteers happier to begin with? Or did volunteer work cause positive mental health benefits?
More than fifty studies have been conducted on volunteering and mental health, and they can help us understand whether volunteering is more common in those with better mental health, or if positive mental health changes results from volunteer work. The answer appears to be both – – happier people are more likely to volunteer and the act of volunteering enhances our level of happiness. Studies have used complex statistical methods to conclude that “volunteering has a positive, causal influence on happiness.”
There are at least four major ways that volunteering helps us achieve positive mental states.
Studies suggest that on average, adults who have lower self-esteem also have a lower sense of social belonging and life satisfaction. But in those who have lower self-esteem but also volunteer regularly, they don’t have a lower sense of belong or life satisfaction. This suggests that the act of volunteering protects us from a low self-appraisal. Doing something meaningful to help others creates more meaning in our own lives. By raising our self-efficacy, volunteering gives us a chance to realize we have something important to offer.
Other research highlights the importance of social connectedness. The bond to our community is strengthened by volunteering. Research on volunteering indicates that closer relationships with others appears to be an early step on the pathway to better wellbeing. The more time and effort involved with community volunteering, the greater your connection to your community and to your fellow volunteers.
As we age, we continually refine who we are and what skills and attributes we possess. We take on role-identity challenges that change how we see ourselves. For example, our parenthood identities change as our children age. Our relationship status and our friends may change, too. These events can weaken our sense of identity if we do not take on any new challenges. We are better able to navigate life transitions when we embody socially desirable roles. Studies find that volunteering can be a role-affirming experience that gives us a more positive affect and a greater purpose in life.
A final reason to consider more volunteering is because it brings an opportunity to be grateful for more in your own life. When we assist those in need, we often put ourselves in their shoes and imagine ourselves facing their challenges. Volunteers tend to be in an advantageous position compared to those they are assisting. Even if a volunteer has lower financial stability, they may have a surplus of energy or enthusiasm to contribute. The inevitable comparisons we make hep us gain appreciation for our own situation. This gives us a small boost in life-satisfaction, based on recent studies.
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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