Abstract

Kindness has broad benefits for well-being, but it remains unclear whether acts done for the benefit of others confer unique benefits beyond social interaction alone. Understanding the unique effects of prosocial behavior is important for developing targeted, scalable interventions that improve mental health, strengthen social connection, and cultivate compassion and empathy. Building on a recently completed BKI-funded project, the proposed study will test whether acts of kindness toward others improve mental health and uniquely increase compassion and empathy beyond social activity alone. Participants (N = 1,320) will be randomly assigned to prosocial acts, self-kindness acts, social activities, or no intervention over two weeks, with assessments at baseline, post-intervention, and two-week follow-up. We will examine intervention effects on depression, anxiety, loneliness, affect, compassion, and empathy. We will also test whether mental health effects are explained by shared mechanisms, including increased social connection and reduced self-absorption, or by the prosocial-specific mechanism of increased social worth. Finally, because loneliness can heighten self-focus and limit existing social ties, we will examine whether prosocial acts are especially beneficial for individuals with elevated loneliness. Findings will inform evidence-based kindness activities for campus wellness, mental health education, and community well-being initiatives.

Field

Psychology

Team

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