Can kindness help you live longer? Science says yes

Doing something nice for someone might make you feel good, but did you know that kindness has some pretty big kickbacks for your overall health too? We dig into the science.

Want to know what the secret to a longer life is? It’s not a radical juice cleanse, giving up carbs, or doing yoga every day (although that certainly helps). It’s kindness. Helping someone out. Doing good things. Making the world a better place.

Studies show that people who actively help and support others, be it family members, friends, or those in the community, might actually be more likely to live longer. But how does that work? Well, it all boils down to connectedness.

When you extend kindness to another person, you’re developing stronger, more meaningful connections – aka friendship. A 2010 study into social relationships and mortality found that people with a tight group of friends had a predicted 50% increased chance of living a longer life. Social connections are also linked to experiencing positive emotions, and may also strengthen our immune systems.

On the other hand, those without a solid network of mates can be at a greater risk of developing heart disease. It’s been shown that people who are socially isolated are more likely to become dependent on drinking and smoking, and are less likely to get out and about to enjoy exercise and the great outdoors.

Think about how good you feel when you do something kind for someone else. That warm, fuzzy feeling we get activates the pleasure/reward part of our brain – the same receptor that fires when we engage in pleasurable activities – which encourages us to do it more. It’s also called the helper’s high.

Kindness triggers something else in our brains as well: oxytocin and serotonin. Oxytocin, aka the love hormone, is the chemical that helps us develop social bonds and trust, and that fizzy little boost we get from it gives us confidence and makes us friendlier and more generous. While oxytocin is most commonly generated in more intimate moments (such as during sex and childbirth), it’s also released when we witness someone else doing a good deed.

Serotonin, on the other hand, is the neurotransmitter responsible for stabilising our mood, happiness and wellbeing. If we’re low in serotonin, we’re more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, but a boost can help alleviate these symptoms and help you feel good. Natural ways to give your serotonin levels a kick include exposure to sunshine, exercise, and – yep – helping others.

Another cool thing about kindness? It’s contagious. When you see someone demonstrating kindness, you’re more inspired to replicate it yourself. So while one day, you might see someone struggling to open a door while they’re holding two coffees, the next you might see a stranger holding the door. And then the next day, you’re holding open a door, smiling, and getting that burst of synapses in your brain. It’s a pay-it-forward effect; a smiley, happy, win/win situation.

The case for kindness and a longer life span has a caveat though. If you’re doing good deeds with the expectation that you’ll receive good things in return, the deal’s off the table. A study conducted a few years ago found that people who volunteered for their own personal satisfaction, rather than for altruistic reasons, had the same mortality rate as people who didn’t volunteer at all.

Here are a few easy ways you can start living a kinder life – and perhaps add a few years to your life while you’re at it:

• Send a text to a mate and let them know how much you appreciate their friendship and why
• Make a meal for someone and deliver it to their home
• Offer your seat on the train, tram or bus to someone on your morning commute
• Volunteer with a local community organisation
• Donate money to a cause you’re passionate about
• Smile and say hello to people you pass on your morning walk
• Write a letter to someone who’s made a positive difference in your life
• Compliment a friend or work colleague on something great they’ve done
• Hold the door for a stranger in a shop (and say thank you if someone holds the door for you!)
• Run an errand for someone you know needs help, like picking up their groceries or taking them to an appointment
• Bake a cake for your workmates

Really, in a world that can feel particularly unkind at times, why wouldn’t you do your bit to make it a better place? It’s not hard to make a difference. 

This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances