Kindness has been shown to be a key to good health and well-being in life

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Altruism, trust, cooperation and compassion are essential components of a harmonious and well-functioning society. These qualities have also been shown to be beneficial for a person's physical and mental health, according to the results of a new study.

In total, about 198 thousand participants were involved in it. It was conducted by an international research team from the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Shu Yan University, Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge.

The paper also states that random acts of kindness, such as helping neighbors with groceries, are more strongly linked to overall health than weekly volunteering in an organization. These random acts, called “informal donations,” tend to be more varied and are less likely to be monotonous. They can also lead to the creation of new social connections, which then benefit both physical and psychological health.

In addition, scientists found a stronger link between kindness and “eudaimonic well-being” – a focus on fulfilling one’s potential and finding true meaning in life rather than happiness or positive emotions. This link was particularly strong among young people. Older groups experienced a greater impact of kindness on their physical well-being. Women of all ages were also shown to have a stronger connection between kind acts and health than men.