PhD student Julia Nakamura (left) and psychology professor Dr. Frances Chen (right) are leading a SSHRC-funded study on the benefits and trade-offs in prosocial engagement in everyday life
Countless studies have shown that people who regularly engage in “prosocial behaviors” — such as volunteering and simple acts of kindness — live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Helping others has been found to be so effective at reducing loneliness, fostering social connection, and enhancing well-being that many researchers and organizations have begun to encourage regular participation in prosocial activities.
But for those already juggling childcare, work, health concerns, financial challenges and countless other responsibilities, making time to help others can feel overwhelming. How do we strike the right balance between giving to others and taking care of our other needs? When is the payoff of volunteering worth sacrificing leisure time or other healthy activities like exercise or cooking nutritious meals?
These are questions that psychologists Dr. Frances Chen and PhD student Julia Nakamura are exploring in their new SSHRC-funded study, Prosociality “in the Wild”: Understanding the benefits and trade-offs of prosocial engagement in everyday life. Their project aims to uncover what frequency, type, and mix of prosocial activities lead to greater well-being in the context of our circumstances and commitments.
They spoke to us about their research, the impact they hope to have on public health guidelines, and their favourite ways to practice kindness.
What drew you to this area of research, and why is this topic important to you?
Throughout our lives, we have both volunteered for various organizations, cared for family members and friends, and occasionally engaged in “random acts of kindness.” We both find these activities immensely rewarding! On the other hand, when things get busy for us – especially when we already can’t seem to find enough time to get adequate sleep, make healthy meals, and otherwise take care of our physical health – then devoting time to these prosocial activities can start to feel daunting or stressful.
While our own research shows that prosociality is health-promoting and can be a powerful antidote to loneliness and social disconnection, we believe that public health guidelines that promote prosocial behavior may be better-received and more achievable if they take people’s other commitments and circumstances into account and acknowledge that there are also potential tradeoffs to spending more time engaging in prosocial behavior.
How will your research be conducted?
Researchers often study prosocial behaviours in isolation. For example, one study might examine whether volunteering is linked to cognitive health in older adults, while another might explore how caregiving affects a person’s sense of purpose. Most research suggests that prosociality benefits health, but some studies show no clear link, while others indicate potential downsides.
One possible reason for these inconsistencies is that prosocial behaviors don’t occur in isolation in real life. People don’t just volunteer or just provide care for family members—they often engage in multiple prosocial behaviours and juggle several other responsibilities alongside these activities. The impact of prosocial behavior on well-being likely depends on how it fits into a person’s broader daily routine.
To get a more realistic picture of the benefits and tradeoffs of prosociality, we are analyzing data from the American Time Use Survey, which tracks how thousands of participants spend a full 24-hour period and asks questions about their well-being. By studying how volunteering and other prosocial behaviors interact with other daily activities, we aim to understand when these behaviors may be more likely to enhance well-being—and when the tradeoffs might outweigh the benefits.
Your previous research showed that performing simple acts of kindness – like letting someone skip ahead in line or running an errand for a friend – can increase social connection and reduce loneliness. These small gestures might also be more manageable for busy individuals, compared to more time-intensive volunteering commitments. What is your favourite “act of kindness” to engage in?
Julia: One of my favorite ways to show kindness is by writing cards or notes of encouragement. It’s a tangible way for me to express my love and appreciation for my friends, family, and others in my community!
Frances: Buying food for people is one of the ways I like to show that I care. Also, if I have a particularly positive experience with a receptionist, bank teller, or customer support agent, I express my gratitude to them directly and also try to share my appreciation with their supervisor. I’ve worked in customer-facing roles before myself and know that these roles are often underappreciated. It takes so little extra time and effort to express gratitude, and acknowledging a positive experience makes everyone involved feel good!
What impact do you hope your research will have?
First, we hope that our findings clarify whether and how the broad, diverse contexts that characterize people’s daily lives influence how feasible and helpful it is for them to engage in prosocial behaviours.
Second, we hope that our findings help refine public health recommendations for volunteering and other prosocial behaviours. By ensuring these guidelines acknowledge people’s personal commitments and challenges, we want to help individuals engage in helping others in a way that balances both their own well-being and the well-being of others.
Related
- Julia Nakamura named a UBC Public Scholar
- Dr. Frances Chen’s research is featured in a Canada Foundation for Innovation campaign
