The health benefits associated with giving and volunteer work have been studied extensively. Everything from lower blood pressure and longer life expectancy has been attributed to those who regularly volunteer.
Here is a list of health benefits associated with giving back:
Higher self-esteem:
Volunteering is a rewarding, and it can make you feel better about yourself by regularly doing a service to the community
Lower stress:
Volunteering offers a sense of escape from the everyday hustle and bustle. Volunteers on average have lower blood pressure, which is often affiliated to low stress levels.
Lower propensity to become depressed:
Being surrounded by others who are all working toward a shared goal has the effect of diminishing loneliness. There are studies that show when a person is less lonely, they are also unlikely to suffer from depression.
Longevity:
A 2012 study showed that those who volunteer, particularly later in life, have a longer life expectancy due to lowered feelings of loneliness and lowered stress levels.
Even financial giving has a positive effect on health. A study from the Journal of Economic Psychology found that increased charitable giving had a positive effect on each participant’s health. It is believed that even charitable giving has a stress relieving effect on the body. Diminished stress is correlated to a strengthened immune system.
Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton enjoys volunteering for so many reasons. Read more about her journey in Malawi at Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton NJ