Volunteering: Helper's High

Volunteering and happiness go hand in hand

Humans have an inherent need for belonging and acceptance. Volunteering or contributing to the wellbeing of others satisfies this need empathetically as well as making one genuinely happy, scientists say.

Be it among young adults or senior citizens, the benefits of volunteering are consistent among all age groups. Over the recent past, a growing body of research indicates that there is a positive correlation between volunteerism and happiness. A large-scale national study in Singapore in 2013 on volunteers and their well-being reported that two-thirds of people who volunteered were satisfied with life as compared to non-volunteers, less than half of whom said they were happy.



The essay ‘Simple Changes, Big Rewards’ published in the 2011 Harvard Health Publications explores how people can boost happiness by incorporating simple changes into their lives. Compared to the people who did not volunteer, the study established that those who volunteered monthly experienced a 7% hike in happiness which rose to 12% for those who volunteered every two to four weeks and 16% for weekly volunteers. Conclusively, the research established that the more people volunteer, the happier they are. Similarly, a 2008 research by published in the Social Science & Medicine Journal suggests that those who volunteer — excluding monetary or blood donations — have decreased rates of depression and mortality. Altruistic behaviour also acts as a buffer against stress. Studies have found that 61% of people who volunteer at least five times a year say volunteer work helps them feel less stressed.



While research has established clear ties between altruistic behaviour and longevity, further research is required to confirm the potential health implications. In a news release by the University of Exeter Medical School, Dr Suzanne Richards stated, “It is still unclear whether biological and cultural factors and social resources, that are often associated with better health, and survival are also associated with a willingness to volunteer in the first place. The challenge now is to encourage people from more diverse backgrounds to take up volunteering, and then to measure whether improvements arise for them.” Research, however, warns that too much volunteering can also prove harmful. The moment it becomes more of a burden than a blessing, it is time to scale back.

Become a volunteer



• Volunteer Karachi is an online project that connects people who can help to those who need it.

• Green Volunteers Pakistan covers different aspects of social work. The organisation mobilises  volunteers for emergency relief services in  different cities.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 23^rd, 2014.