Volunteering can serve your mind, body & soul

Photo by Ridofranz, courtesy iStockphoto

From eating a healthy diet to getting enough exercise, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your health. But here’s one you might not have thought of —volunteering. Whether helping out at a school, hospital, hotline, food bank, museum, animal shelter or somewhere else, research shows that volunteering can be just what the doctor ordered.

“Volunteering is good for both your mental and physical health,” says Laura Kubzansky, PhD, MPH, professor of social and behavioral sciences at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “When you engage in volunteer activities, you’re not only benefiting your own health, but you’re also benefiting the health of other people and the community.”

According to AmeriCorps — the U.S. agency for national service and volunteerism — more Americans than ever are pitching in to make a difference and improve the common good. In fact, more than 75 million people volunteered through an organization last year, contributing more than 5 billion hours of service. But volunteering doesn’t have to be a formal activity to make a difference.

“There are informal acts of helping, too,” Kubzansky says. “Things like going to the grocery store for your sick neighbor or giving someone a ride to the doctor. People who receive these acts of kindness feel supported because they know there are other people who care about them.”

Even making a charitable donation is a form of volunteering, Kubzansky says, noting that such activities are “pro-social” behaviors, which are acts of kindness where you give without expecting something in return.

Spending time in service to others gives us a sense of purpose, makes us feel happier and more socially connected and adds meaning to our lives. Scientists who study the health benefits of volunteering have found that engaging in it can release a chemical in the brain called dopamine, which creates positive feelings and reduces stress and anxiety. When we feel less stressed, our bodies also benefit. Lower stress can help prevent serious health problems like heart disease, stroke and depression. It also helps protect against general sickness overall and reduces inflammation, which can help us live longer, happier lives.

Studies show that people who volunteer several times per week can enjoy even greater health gains. Many volunteer activities require you to be physically active and socially engaged, which can make you feel more connected and happier, possibly lowering your blood pressure and providing the mental stimulation that may boost your brain health and improve memory.

And here’s another benefit: Because volunteering helps reduce stress, boosts positive emotions and provides a sense of purpose, it may help you manage pain.

“As people age, they tend to experience a little bit more pain,” Kubzansky says. “Our research found a lower rate of increase in pain among people who were volunteering or giving charitable donations.”

• Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association