A recent study by Ohio State University has found that performing acts of kindness can have a positive impact on individuals experiencing  depression and anxiety. The study, which was led by David Cregg as part of his PhD dissertation in psychology at Ohio State University and published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, found that this technique of "performing acts of kindness" was the only intervention tested that helped people feel more connected to others, which is essential for well-being.

The study involved 122 people in central Ohio with moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. After an introductory session, the participants were split into three groups. Two groups were assigned to techniques often used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression: planning social activities or cognitive reappraisal. The third group was instructed to perform three acts of kindness a day for two days out of the week.

The social activities group was instructed to plan social activities for two days a week. The cognitive reappraisal group kept records for at least two days each week that helped them identify negative thought patterns and revise their thoughts in a way that could reduce depression and anxiety. The acts of kindness group performed actions that benefited others and made them happy, such as baking cookies for friends, offering to give a friend a ride, and leaving sticky notes for roommates with words of encouragement.

Participants followed their instructions for five weeks, after which they were evaluated again. The researchers then checked with the participants after another five weeks to see if the interventions were still effective. The findings showed that participants in all three groups showed an increase in life satisfaction and a reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms after the 10 weeks of the study.

However, the acts of kindness group showed an advantage over both social activities and cognitive reappraisal by making people feel more connected to other people. This suggests that there is something specific about performing acts of kindness that makes people feel connected to others, and it's not just enough to be around other people or participating in social activities. It's important to note that just participating in social activities did not improve feelings of social connection in this study.

This finding is particularly important as it suggests that the intuition many people have about people with depression may be wrong. "We often think that people with depression have enough to deal with, so we don't want to burden them by asking them to help others. But these results run counter to that," said co-author Jennifer Cheavens, Professor of Psychology at Ohio State. "Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves."

The study also revealed why performing acts of kindness worked so well: It helped people take their minds off their own depression and anxiety symptoms. It's important to note that while this study used techniques of CBT, it is not the same experience as going through CBT. Those who undergo the full treatment may have better results. However, the study's results are encouraging and suggest that performing acts of kindness could be an effective addition to traditional treatments for depression and anxiety.

In conclusion, the study provides strong evidence that performing acts of kindness can have a positive impact on individuals suffering from depression and anxiety. It shows that it helps people feel more connected to others and it helps to take their minds off their own symptoms. It also provides an alternative, non-intrusive way to deal with depression and anxiety, and has the potential to be an effective addition to traditional treatments. It is an easy, accessible, and low-cost way for people to improve their own mental health and well-being, while also helping others.

Discussion Questions

1. How can we incorporate acts of kindness into our daily lives to help improve our mental well-being?

2. How does performing acts of kindness help individuals suffering from depression and anxiety to feel more connected to others?

3. In what ways does performing acts of kindness differ from participating in social activities and cognitive reappraisal in terms of its effect on mental health?

4. How can healthcare professionals use the findings of this study to enhance their treatment approach for patients suffering from depression and anxiety?

David R. Cregg & Jennifer S. Cheavens (2022) Healing through helping: an experimental investigation of kindness, social activities, and reappraisal as well-being interventions, The Journal of Positive Psychology, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2022.2154695

For more about psychological disorders take a look at Carter, K. (2022). Psychopathology: Understanding Psychological Disorders. Cambridge University Press.

www.cambridge.org/psychopathology