![\"Myriam](\"http:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/photos\/20110518\/\/MyriamMongrain.jpg\")
received little empirical evidence until recently,\u201d says lead author Myriam Mongrain (right)<\/strong>,\u00a0professor of psychology in York\u2019s Faculty of Health.<\/p>\n\u201cWhat\u2019s amazing is that the time investment required for these changes to occur is so small. We\u2019re talking about mere minutes a day,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Participants\u2019 levels of depression, happiness and self-esteem were assessed at the study\u2019s onset, and at four subsequent points over the following six months; those in the compassionate condition reported significantly greater increases in self-esteem and happiness at six months compared to those in the control group.<\/p>\n
So why does doing good for others make us feel good about ourselves?<\/p>\n
\u201cThe simplest answer is that doing noble, charitable acts makes us feel better about ourselves. We reaffirm that we are \u2018good\u2019, which is a highly valued trait in our society. It is also possible that being kind to others may help us be kind to ourselves,\u201d Mongrain says. She notes that previous studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between compassionate behaviours and charitable self-evaluations.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompassion cuts both ways,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you make a conscious decision to not be so hard on others, it becomes easier to not be so hard on yourself. Furthermore, providing support to others often means that we will get support back. That is why caring for and helping others may be the best possible thing we can do for ourselves. On a less selfish level, there is something intrinsically satisfying about helping others and witnessing their gratitude,\u201d says Mongrain.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, research has also shown that compassionate activities increase the level of meaning in one\u2019s life, which in turn elevates levels of happiness.<\/p>\n
Researchers expected that those with needy personalities would experience greater reductions in depressive symptoms and greater increases in happiness and self-esteem as a result of being kind to others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hypothesized this would occur as a result of the reassurance [needy personalities] might extract from positive exchanges with others,\u201d Mongrain says. \u201cWe did see some reduction in depressive symptoms for anxiously attached individuals, but further research is needed to see if there is any long-term benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n