Doing Good: A Positivity Multiplier
Volunteer work is linked with positive health benefits and more physical activity.
Add volunteering to the list of lifestyle activities that can promote health and well-being. A recent large-scale longitudinal study of nearly 13,000 adults compared adults over 50 who consistently volunteered about 2 hours per week with those who did not volunteer. Those in the first group had a substantially lower risk of dying early or developing physical limitations, plus they had higher physical activity levels and a better sense of well-being in later life.
“Regular altruistic activity reduces our risk of death even though our study didn’t show any direct impact on a wide array of chronic conditions,” said Eric S. Kim, PhD, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University.
The study is available in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2020; doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2020.03.004 ).
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
