Anyone who has ever lifted a ladle in a soup kitchen or coached a little league team will probably tell you that volunteering just feels good. Study after study shows that people who volunteer are happier and feel more socially connected. But the benefits of giving one’s time for a cause goes beyond boosting your mood.

A growing body of evidence suggests that people who volunteer might also be rewarded with better physical health. Here are just a few of the health benefits you can achieve by doing good.

Lower blood pressure:

Researchers have identified a strong correlation between volunteering and a reduced risk of high blood pressure. A study by scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the US tracked more than 1,100 adults over a four-year period to determine what effect volunteerism might have on their blood pressure and various other factors. They found that those who reported at least 200 hours of volunteer work per year were 40 percent less likely to develop hypertension than non-volunteers.

Longer life span:

Researchers at the University of Exeter in the UK reviewed 40 studies from the past 20 years and found those who gave up their time had a 22 percent lower mortality risk. A similar study, published in the journal, Psychology and Aging revealed that even when external factors like medical history and social support network were taken into consideration, volunteering still reduced risk of death by 25 percent.

Reduced dementia risk:

The social interaction that characterizes most volunteering endeavours can significantly reduce the progress on Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. According to a study in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, people with higher levels of social interaction were significantly less likely to develop dementia.

Diminished stress:

Volunteering goes beyond being something fun to do; it decreases stress, too. By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have learned that being helpful to others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to give to others. The more we give, the happier we feel. And happiness is healthy. In a study on chronic stress and its impact on health published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, researchers show that stress is a predictor of accelerated aging and disease.

Better fitness:

In 2016, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), released the results of a survey on volunteering that showed that 25 percent of people who volunteer say the experience helped them become more physically fit. In some segments, volunteers were a whopping 2.6 times more likely to be physically fit than non-volunteers.

Reduced depression:

Research has shown that volunteering leads to lower rates of depression, particularly for those 65 and older. Depression has a myriad of negative effects on our physical health, including increased risk of heart attack, weakened immune system and fatigue. Volunteering increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests — both of which have been shown to decrease depression.

Want to get involved? Learn more about volunteering during Covid-19.

Volunteer Alberta:

https://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/programs_services_resources/people/volunteer-opportunities/