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Impact of ‘Doing Good’ on Physiology and Body Chemistry
Several studies have focused on how positive psychology practices affect different aspects of our body. Please see below for the results from some of that research.
- C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein produced by the liver when there is bodily inflammation and a predictor of cardiovascular problems. In a study authored by Purdue University7, researchers focused on the connection between older adults engaging in volunteerism and their CRP levels. The results were insightful across two areas:
- “Frequency of participation in volunteering manifested the most robust association with CRP.” (We talk more about frequency and consistency of positive psychology practices here as well)
- “People who are 70–85 years of age and very active as volunteers exhibited lower CRP than persons aged 58–69 who were not very active as volunteers.” In other words, frequent volunteering manifests a ‘younger biological profile’ by reducing inflammation in older adults.
- In another study8 of older adults (51-91 years), this time focused on correlation between volunteerism and hypertension, there were similar positive inferences.
- Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death among adults and hypertension is an important risk factor for this disease.
- In this study done by Carnegie Mellon University9 researchers concluded that those who had volunteered at least 200 hours in the last 12 months were 40% less likely than non-volunteers to develop hypertension or high blood pressure.
- The amount of time spent volunteering was material to this conclusion and not the actual type of volunteering. The act of volunteering leading to sustained social connections was the key.
- In a study using much younger subjects10 (high-school students in Canada), the central question was whether regular volunteering can reduce cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. The subjects in this study were assessed on not only their C-reactive protein levels, but also cardiovascular risk markers such as interleukin 6 levels, total cholesterol levels, and body mass index.
- The conclusion, not surprisingly, showed positive correlations to not only physiological markers such as CRP, BMI and others but also to psychological markers (empathy, mood, self-esteem, altruism).
- Doing good activities such as volunteering not only allows a person to help others, but also gather psychological and physiological benefits for themselves.
- Self-compassion is an important aspect of doing good to yourself. Self-compassion leads to improved mental health and well-being and is well-understood in meditative and psychological practices.
- In a study at the University of Exeter11 (UK), however, the focus was on calibrating the effect of self-compassion on physiological reactions such as reduced heart-rate, skin conductance and increased heart rate variability. The subjects in this study were college students with an average age of 19 years.
- The study concluded “that self-compassion reduces negative self-bias and activates a content and calm state of mind, with a disposition for kindness, care, social connectedness, and the ability to self-soothe when stressed”.
The Contagious Nature of ‘Doing Good‘
What happens when we witness somebody doing good, or an act of kindness? Research suggests that witnessing goodness triggers prosocial feelings, altruistic motivations, and physical reactions such as warmth in your being. Psychologist term these feelings “Moral elevation” or “Elevation.”
- In a multi-week study,12 college-students were exposed to altruistic acts and their reactions were measured. The study makes a distinction between positive emotion reactions to elevations (i.e. watching an act of altruism) versus to acts of admiration (i.e. watching a sports athlete excel) versus to acts of amusement (i.e. watching a comedian/sitcom). The findings from this study highlight the inspirational nature of elevation.
- A higher percentage of participants in the study were keen to emulate elevation/altruistic acts (51%); compared to wanting to emulate acts of admiration (28%) or acts of amusement (9%).
- Participants exposed to Elevation acts showed the most motivation to want to be a better person.
- Exposure to Elevation made people want to be kind toward others. On the other hand, exposure to admiration acts moved people to want to ‘achieve successes’ for themselves.
- Elevation acts showed a strong correlation to feelings of gratitude.
- “Warmth in the chest” was the most commonly reported physical sensation for elevation participants.
- In a related study13 by one of same researchers, the findings make the connection between elevation and the release of oxytocin, which may lead to changes in social behavior.
- During elevation, there is also an association with increased heart rate and increased blood flow to brain systems.
- Another study14 sets out to understand what happens to our physiology as a result of moral elevation. Particularly, it focuses on measurements of heart rate (HR), respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity.
- Note: To define these further in the context of this study, Respiratory sinus arrhythmia, serves as the index of emotion regulation (related to the Parasympathetic nervous system or PNS – nerves that relaxes your body), while heart rate displays activity (related to the Sympathetic nervous system or SNS – nerves that responds when we face dangerous or stressful situations). The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a part of the brain that helps regulate emotion and therefore a measure of effect due to moral elevation.
- This study was conducted using students at Oregon State University, and measured their reactions to videos of compassion acts. The findings15 were quite interesting.
- Based on reactions to compassionate acts, it appeared to activate both, the PNS and the SNS – a seemingly odd finding, but one that makes sense in the context of elevation. Compassion is often a result of observing stressful acts of sadness or suffering, while a response through kindness to this stress brings out moral elevation – allowing both the SNS and the PNS to play out in parallel.
- This report16 from Cedars- Sinai hospital talks about the release of oxytocin (‘love hormone’), dopamine, and serotonin in our bodies during acts of doing good and kindness. Dopamine and serotonin are often called our “happy hormones” because they are connected to our positive emotions.